Dear 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ University Faculty and Staff,
With the advent of the spring semester, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ has begun an expanded program of testing for COVID-19 to reduce the spread of this virus and to provide the safest possible living, learning and working environment for our 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ community.
As part of this expanded testing, all residence hall students were given access to free at-home testing to use before they arrived on campus. In addition, all residence hall students were tested for COVID-19 as they arrived on campus and will continue to be tested at least once per week, as complying with the university’s testing program is a condition of their housing contracts. We also are testing wastewater from our residence halls to detect levels of virus shed as an indicator of where potential outbreaks could be starting.
As was the case in the fall semester, we again will be offering a program of random screening testing that will include some faculty, staff and students. This testing effort will prioritize faculty and staff who are unable to consistently maintain physical distancing standards and is based on guidance from the .
This type of testing is to increase the timeliness of outbreak detection and response by rapidly identifying and isolating COVID-19 cases that would have otherwise gone undetected without testing.
It is possible you will be randomly selected for this testing. This testing is voluntary; however, we strongly encourage you to take part regardless of whether you have any symptoms of COVID-19. This testing is not for anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
In addition, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ continues to offer weekday COVID-19 testing for all faculty and staff at the DeWeese Health Center; contact the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ COVID Response Team at 330-672-2525 to arrange for testing at the health center. Testing at also is available all semester.
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and the city of Kent also have partnered with the Ohio Department of Health to bring large-scale testing to Kent on Jan. 28 and 29 to give an opportunity for free testing for all. These events are open to faculty and staff and their families, students and the general public. This testing will occur on both days from noon to 4 p.m. at the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Field House, 2227 Summit St., Kent.
Registration
Advanced registration is not required but is strongly encouraged for these events.
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Our testing strategy for the spring semester, coupled with our Flashes Safe Seven safety principles, is at the leading edge of national best practices for ensuring the health and safety of our 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ community, and it will provide students, faculty and staff with the best possible campus experience given the ongoing pandemic. Our testing strategy will be continually reviewed, updated and adjusted as needed to accommodate the evolving pandemic conditions throughout the spring semester and to changes in state, county and local health guidelines.
We hope that you had an enjoyable break and are rested and reenergized for the spring semester. I am confident it will be a successful one for all of us.
Sincerely,
Manfred van Dulmen, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
Chair, Pandemic Leadership Committee