Local universities are starting to make changes when it comes to the start of the spring semester. 

Two of our local universities are pushing back the start date to the spring of 2022. Gannon University and Mercyhurst University are starting a week later because of concerns of community spread as well as cases within faculty and staff. Mercyhurst is still requiring you to be fully vaccinated or do weekly testing if you have a medical exemption. They are not requiring a booster shot to return. Mercyhurst's return is Monday, January 17th. Gannon University is requiring all residential students to show proof of a negative COVID test by January 15th. 

Penn State Behrend started classes on Monday. They have 40,000 available tests for students and staff to take when needed. They are not requiring vaccinations or negative testing but encourage students and staff to take tests when needed. 

At Edinboro University they encourage students to get vaccinated but do not require it to return. They are requiring however you have a negative COVID test up to 72 hours before your return to campus. At home tests are not accepted. If you're fully vaccinated you are not required to show proof of a negative COVID test. If either of those two options aren't available you're also able to get tested the first week of classes. 

Masking is still required on all of the local college campuses.