The message below was sent by Eleanor JB Daugherty, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, to students on all campuses on February 2, 2022
Subject: Welcome Back!
Hi Huskies!
You’re back! Like a winter storm or a water main break or a pandemic would stop us from returning to our campuses. Don’t underestimate a husky.
Thank you, everyone. You are here, in person, and we are all better for it.
Medical Update:
Unsurprisingly, we are reporting a notable number of positive tests that resulted from our rigorous arrival and pre-arrival testing strategy. That makes sense given the size of our community with a positivity rate in the state that continues to drop but is still around 10%.
Those students are cared for, isolated, and on the path to recovery. Many of those students were able to isolate at home. For residential campuses, this has meant less use of isolation beds. As they get well and more students continue to test positive, we will continue to stay in red until we have effectively identified and contained spread. I’ll update you more on that next week.
Increased access to testing:
Last semester many of you were not symptomatic for COVID but wanted to obtain a test. I know that created some concern for you and I am happy to share an alternative this semester. My special thanks to our student leaders who brought this to my attention in our Dean’s Advisory conversations (shameless plug: all our welcome).
As background, our medical plan for Storrs students limits access to tests to those who are currently symptomatic for COVID, an identified close contact through contact tracing, or part of surveillance testing. Regional students exempted from the policy are required to participate in surveillance testing provided by the campuses. That has not changed and will continue to be a priority for our medical team.
With great thanks to my colleagues throughout our campuses, I am happy to share that a limited number of at-home antigen tests are available to students on our campuses throughout the course of the Spring semester. Regional campuses will specifically follow up with directions for their students later this month on how to obtain an at-home test. Information for the Hartford campus is included below.
Students may only obtain one test kit which contains two tests and must have their student ID. Storrs students may access at-home antigen tests in the following way:
Storrs Students:
Tests are available at the Student Union Information Center (located next to the Fairfield Way entrance, across from the One Card Office).
Test Kits will be available Monday-Friday (beginning February 7) from 9am-6pm
Storrs Residential Students:
Beginning February 7, you may contact your Hall Director to receive a test.
SHaW Pharmacy:
Free tests are also available through the SHaW Pharmacy Online Marketplace and can be ordered HERE. You will be notified when your test kit is available for curbside pick-up.
Hartford campus:
Hartford students can access in-person COVID arrival testing on Wednesday, February 2nd and Thursday, February 3rd from 9:30am - 3:30pm in the Hartford Public Library CCC room. Sign-up in advance for a time slot in NEXUS.
Positive test results for all students should be uploaded through the Patient Portal.
It was such a joy to see students back on our campuses. As I shared when I was visiting students during move-in (shout out to Werth!, things were way too quiet around here). It so great to have you back.
Be well,
Eleanor JB Daugherty, EdD
she/her/hers
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
For more information, contact: Janice Canniff at janice.canniff@uconn.edu