Health Requirements for Students

DEADLINES

New and incoming students

• Fall semester - June 30th
• Spring Semester - January 18th

Students who fail to comply with this policy by the start of classes, including but not limited to any failure to supply complete health and immunization records to the College by the established dates are subject to a "health hold" on the student account preventing class schedule changes, future registration and release of transcript,  a $250 fine and eventual cancellation of registration.

All students (as defined above) must provide health information to the Siena Health Service. Siena Health Service will maintain the records while the student is in continuous attendance at the College.

Specific Requirements

Physical Exam:  

All full-time students are required to submit a completed Siena College Health Record. The physical exam must be performed within 2 years of admission for new students and students that have been readmitted to the college after an absence of two years or more.

Immunizations:  

All full-time, part-time, and non-matriculated students (registered for 6 credits or more) born after January 1, 1957, are required to submit a completed Siena College Student Immunization Record form to provide proof of immunity  to the following at the time of registration and prior to the start of classes.  Please note: Nursing students will need to comply with both Siena College and clinical agency health requirements.

Measles (rubeola)- Proof of immunity shall consist of one of the following:  two immunizations given after 1967, at least 30 days apart, on or after the first birthday; evidence of the disease documented by a physician (MD or DO); or documentation of an adequate immune titer.

Mumps (infectious parotitis)- Proof of immunity shall consist of one of the following:. one immunization given after 1967, on or after the first birthday; evidence of the disease documented by a physician (MD or DO); or documentation of an adequate immune titer.

Rubella (German Measles)- Proof of immunity shall consist of one of the following:  one immunization given after 1967, on or after the first birthday; evidence of the disease documented by a physician (MD or DO); or documentation of an adequate immune titer.

Meningitis –  proof of 1 dose of Meningococcal ACWY vaccine after the age of 16 years old and within 5 years of start of classes.  

Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis: recent vaccination with combined tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis toxoid within 10 years.

Tuberculosis: evidence of tuberculosis screening performed within the past six months or a chest x-ray ruling out active tuberculosis. Positive skin tests will require a referral to the Chest Clinic of the local county Public Health Department (see section on enforcement below).  Nursing students working in a healthcare facility may provide evidence of a negative TB test within 1 year.

The COVID vaccination series and boosters will be strongly recommended for students entering Siena beginning in the fall of 2023. As the College has done throughout the COVID emergency, the update to policy was made following a comprehensive review conducted by our St. Peter’s Health Partners Health Services and a thorough analysis of their conclusions. The end of the national COVID emergency declaration was also factored.  

Some academic experiences or programs, including clinical settings, study abroad or internships, may require the COVID -19 vaccination for eligibility to participate. The College also reserves the right to modify its medical and vaccination requirements based on the public health situation, Centers for Disease Control guidelines, or NY State Department of Health directives. The College will actively review changes in the public health environment and make evidence-based decisions in response to future developments.

MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS VACCINE EXEMPTIONS

Siena College has a process in place for medical and religious vaccine exemptions that follows New York State immunization guidelines. 

Students should contact the Director of Health Services (health@siena.edu ) to determine what paperwork will be required for review of all required immunizations.

Students must submit separate exemption requests for a medical or religious exemption.

Students seeking religious exemption from these requirements must comply with applicable state regulations.

• Students under 18 years of age must submit a written statement signed by his/her parents or guardian stating that they hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs contrary to the practice of immunization.
• Students 18 years or older must submit a statement themselves to qualify for religious exemption.
• This statement must describe the beliefs in sufficient detail to permit the college to determine that the beliefs are religious in nature (not philosophical), and sincerely and genuinely held.
• Students that qualify for religious exemption will be required to leave the campus in the event of an outbreak of one or more of these diseases and will remain away from campus for 21 days after the outbreak is over.

Students seeking medical exemption from these requirements must

• submit medical documentation indicating the reasons for exemption and signed by a licensed medical provider.
• Medical exemptions from this requirement may be granted at the discretion of the Health Service Director for reasons such as pregnancy, history of anaphylaxis, immune-compromised conditions, or other relevant disease states.
• Non-immunized students will, at the discretion of the Health Service Director, be required to leave the college in the event of an outbreak of one or more of these diseases and will remain off campus for 21 days after the outbreak is over.

Any individual enrolled in 5 credit hours per semester or less, or any part-time student at Siena who enrolls full-time in the future must, at that time, submit a completed Siena College Health Record and meet all other requirements of a full-time student as set forth in this policy. Any individual enrolled in 5 credit hours per semester or less at Siena who enrolls part-time in the future must, at that time, meet all the requirements of a part-time student as set forth in this policy.

COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

Students who fail to comply with this policy within 30 days of the beginning of the first term for which they register will not be permitted to attend class and will have their registration put on hold for subsequent semesters. Students living in the residence halls will be removed from housing until all required health record requirements are met. They may be reinstated upon full compliance and taken off registration “hold”.

Students with positive tuberculin tests, including those who have had BCG vaccination, are required to report to the Albany County Health Department Chest Clinic or the Health Department in their county of residence. Failure to comply with health department directives will result in the penalties listed in the preceding paragraph.

REPORTING

Siena College complies with the requirement to submit yearly reports of immunization statistics including reports of diagnosis of communicable disease, as they occur, as required by NYS Department of Health regulations.

Student immunization records contain medical information and will be maintained in a confidential manner. Access to these records will be limited to personnel whose job duties require information from these records. No records can be released without the student’s written consent or for a student under the age of eighteen, the consent of a parent or guardian. All medical records will be stored for seven years.

The Siena College Health Service will comply with, uphold and enforce relevant provisions of the New York State Public Health Law, Article 21, Title VI, Section 2165 and 2167 as it pertains to this college.

Siena College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its students with regards to communicable diseases, including Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis. The College recognizes and accepts its responsibility under applicable state law and adheres to recommendations from the America College Health Association and U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

DEFINITION OF STUDENT

Part-time student -- Any person enrolled in a minimum of 6 but less than 12 credit hours per semester.

Full-time student -- Any person enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per semester. -- Any graduate student enrolled in 9 or more credit hours per semester.