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- March 8, 2021 | Required Student COVID-19 Testing Begins March...
- Title:
- March 8, 2021 | Required Student COVID-19 Testing Begins March 22
- Date:
- 2021-03-08
- Category:
- Presidential Memos
- Harvested from:
- https://perma.cc/H79Z-9K2U
- Type:
- text
- Digital Format:
- text/html
- Reference Link:
- https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fridayletter/letters/president_memo_2021-03-08.html
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March 8, 2021 | Required Student COVID-19 Testing Begins March 22
TO: University of Idaho Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Scott Green, President
Torrey Lawrence, Provost and Executive Vice President
DATE: March 8, 2021
SUBJECT: Required Student COVID-19 Testing Begins March 22
Spring Break is just a week away, and we hope you are each able to enjoy some downtime at this mid-semester break. Please continue to employ the Healthy Vandal Pledge in all you do. COVID-19 testing slots are available for tomorrow’s testing clinic until 3 p.m. today for anyone wanting a COVID-19 test before the break.
COVID-19 test results for the past week show a decline in positive cases. This is great news considering the spike just a week earlier. We received 745 tests, and 3.76% of those were positive. No housing area on campus is in quarantine, but we remain vigilant.
Mid-Semester Testing
Our mid-semester-required COVID-19 testing of all students participating in in-person instructional activities will begin on March 22. Testing appointments are available Monday-Wednesday, March 22-24 at the Student Recreation Center. All students participating in testing on these days will be entered to win one of 25 VandalStore gift cards, each valued at $100.
Following winter break our infection rates remained low within the university community. We have completed 9,635 tests since Jan. 6 with 2.28% positives. Our testing lab continues to produce fast results, and we have not had a single transmission traced to a classroom. For these reasons, classes will begin again on Monday, March 22 and will be held as described in the course schedule. Lists of those who are ineligible to participate in in-person learning will be distributed to instructors beginning Friday, March 26. Restricted access to university systems, including BbLearn and VandalWeb, will follow for students who have not completed the required testing.
Honor Idaho Vaccination Distribution Plans
Gritman Medical Center contacted us about U of I employees who are not yet eligible for vaccine being aggressive with their staff at the vaccination clinics. They have also experienced several employees misrepresenting their eligibility criteria on the online registration and/or in person at the vaccination site, saying they are part of the K-12 system. This slows down the vaccination process, and we need to honor Idaho’s vaccination distribution plan. When someone moves up, then someone else moves back. If you signed up using the Gritman website, but are not eligible per the state guidelines, you will be turned away.
The vaccination schedule within the state has been accelerated, and some of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is already in Moscow. We are optimistic vaccinations will continue to roll out quickly and be open to a larger population soon.
Relief Funding
Higher Education Emergency Relief funds are now available to the university. Students, watch your email this week for more information about eligibility for and distribution of these funds.
Commencement
As protocols allow for more in-person events, planning continues for live, in-person Commencement ceremonies in Moscow, Boise and Idaho Falls in May. Six ceremonies to honor 2020 and 2021 graduates are set for Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16, at the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center in Moscow. One ceremony will be held for 2020 graduates while other ceremonies will be grouped by college to accommodate Idaho Rebounds protocols. In-person ceremonies are also being planned for Tuesday, May 18, in Boise, and Wednesday, May 19, in Idaho Falls. All ceremonies will be subject to Healthy Vandal protocols and state regulations. More information and a breakdown of ceremonies is on the Commencement website.
We are halfway through the semester. Let’s continue to be diligent and finish strong.
Keep Calm and Vandal On.
Scott Green
President
president@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president
Torrey Lawrence
Provost and Executive Vice President
provost@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/provost