Coronavirus Information and Updates for the Widener Law Commonwealth Community

Widener University and Widener Law Commonwealth are actively monitoring the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Law school information and updates about developments with the illness, Widener Law Commonwealth’s response to it, or any impact on law school classes or operations will be available here. Additionally, links will be provided to Widener University's coronavirus webpage and communications.

Important Information for Widener Law Commonwealth

March 2023
The information on this page is current as of the time of its posting. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of issues and guidance surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the information provided below is subject to change and this page will continue to be updated. Please check back regularly. 

To maintain the health and safety of the Widener Pride, Widener University continually monitors and assesses a variety of viruses and other illnesses that impact everyone on our campuses. After carefully reviewing our community health data, the university has updated its policies regarding COVID-19. 

The primary COVID-19 vaccination series will continue to be required for all Widener students, including students at Widener Law Commonwealth. The COVID-19 vaccine will be handled like all required vaccines for incoming students. Students will be given a date by which they must provide proof of vaccination.

Non-compliance with these requirements will result in an academic hold on your student account which prohibits drop/add or registration of classes. 

COVID-19 boosters are no longer required for students, staff and faculty. The university system initially required boosters in response to a significant spike in COVID-19 cases and the benefit they offered in reducing isolation time based on CDC recommendations. These guidelines have since been revised and reported cases within the Widener community have decreased. 

The university will continue to accept requests for exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination policy for documented medical reasons. In addition, it will now accept student exemption requests for documented religious and philosophical reasons. However, any student, especially in nursing and the health sciences, must comply with the clinical requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations and exemptions for any site they attend. 

Even though the university is no longer conducting contact tracing for COVID-19 or maintaining a COVID-19 dashboard, students who test positive should still report positive cases to Student Health Services for appropriate isolation instructions, seek care if needed and continue to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus to others. In addition, anyone who wishes to wear a mask for any reason is encouraged to do so. 

We encourage everyone in the Widener community to take precautions to keep themselves healthy and safe. It is essential to wash your hands regularly and stay home if you’re sick and experiencing any typical symptoms of colds or viruses.

Thank you for all you do to keep the Widener community healthy. 

As of May 2022, masks were made optional on the Widener Law Commonwealth campus. Students participating in learning experiences off campus should follow the masking policies of the respective organization.  

Anyone who wishes to continue to wear a mask for any reason is encouraged to do so, and we will respect individuals’ decisions and treat them with sensitivity.  

If you need a mask, N95, KN95 and KF94 masks are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who want them at our Campus Safety Desk in the law library.  

WILL I BE REQUIRED TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

All students and campus employees within the Widener University system, including Widener Law Commonwealth, are required to be vaccinated with one or two doses, depending on the vaccine selected, of any World Health Organization-approved vaccine. Students and campus employees will need to upload their vaccination cards to https://widener.medicatconnect.com/home.aspx. Sign in using your Widener credentials and upload a photo of your vaccine card.   

WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT IMPACTS MY ABILITY TO GET THE VACCINE or do not want to get the vaccine?

Exemptions and/or accommodations from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement will be considered for medical, philosophical, or sincerely-held religious beliefs reasons. Students may request immunization exemption forms by contacting Student Health Services at (610) 499-1183 or [email protected]. Employees may contact Human Resources for exemption information and forms

WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WIDENER UNIVERSITY’S COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY?

A list of frequently asked questions is available on MyWidener and at www.widener.edu/coronavirus. You may also direct questions to [email protected].

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE VACCINATION POLICY?

Students, staff, and faculty who are not vaccinated or have not received an exemption will not be permitted on campus.  If a student does not comply with the immunization requirements, a registration hold will be applied to your account, restricting you from all future enrollment activities. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A STUDENT IN MY CLASS CONTRACTS COVID?

If you or a classmate contracts COVID, we will work with you and the University’s Student Health Services office to determine what mitigation and contact tracing efforts are needed. Please contact Student Health Services and Dean Teplitz if you test positive for COVID.

IF I AM A CAMPUS EMPLOYEE AND CONTRACT COVID, WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

Please notify your supervisor if you test positive for COVID-19 and continue to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus to others, including isolation, masking, and avoiding contact with those at a higher risk of getting sick. The CDC’s isolation calculator and isolation information are available to guide how long you should avoid others. In addition, anyone who wishes to wear a mask for any reason is encouraged to do so. 

Health & Safety Plan for PA Dept of Education

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires Pennsylvania postsecondary education institutions to publish a “Health and Safety Plan” before resuming in-person operations. Widener's plan will be communicated to students, faculty, and staff and is available online as well. See Widener's Health and Safety Plan.

University Communications

All Widener University (main campus) communications are available at widener.edu/coronavirus. We encourage all members of the Widener community, including faculty and staff, to monitor widener.edu/coronavirus for important updates that may pertain to them. 

Additional Resources

Links are also available at widener.edu/coronavirus.

Last Modified: This page was last updated on March 20, 2023 at 9:39 AM