Not all Idaho universities and colleges are requiring students be tested for COVID-19. With thousands of students on campus, some found the potential requirement unrealistic.
University of Idaho, however, decided to require all students attending classes on the Moscow campus or living in university housing be tested for COVID-19. UI has worked closely alongside Gritman Medical Center to provide testing at an on-campus site. Students are ineligible to attend in-person classes until they have received negative test results.
According to UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker, UI is the only higher education institution in the state completing mandatory testing and continued surveillance testing for COVID-19.
“Testing, along with the University of Idaho’s face covering policy and other modifications for fall, will help provide a safer environment and a memorable experience for our students this semester,” UI President C. Scott Green said in a presidential memo.
But COVID-19 testing results from the university have been coming in slowly. UI’s focus on testing requirements, use of hybrid classes, limited capacity classrooms and plans to move online following Thanksgiving break all aim to counter potential spread of COVID-19.
While testing may not be mandatory at all Idaho colleges and universities, each is handling the pandemic differently.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University’s Fall 2020 COVID-19 plan, named Roaring Back, addresses the university’s plans to host in-person classes during the pandemic.
Instruction for students will be on-campus and separated into different class types. Most courses will be offered in a hybrid format, but ISU’s website stated fully online courses would be made available to those unable to return to campus.
Students at ISU were also required to undergo COVID-19 testing. However, students are only expected to be tested once they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, as the testing capacity cannot handle a full-campus test, Walker said.
Results are published on ISU’s website. As of Aug. 31, ISU had 44 new cases, with eight positive cases in faculty/staff and 36 in students.
On-campus students who test positive for the virus are required to contact their Resident Assistants for isolation.
Like UI and other in-person campuses nationwide, ISU is requiring face coverings on campus and expecting the university community to engage in social distancing. ISU will also transition online after Thanksgiving break.
ISU’s COVID-19 precautions included the Bengal Pledge, which campus community members take to promise they will take personal action to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Bengal Pledge is similar to UI’s Healthy Vandal Pledge, although it is unclear how much the people who take either pledge will follow COVID-19-related guidelines.
Social events and gatherings are still permitted at ISU, with its website noting “all events must adhere to current state and CDC health and safety guidelines.” Classrooms allow students and instructors to maintain six feet of social distancing and are cleaned comprehensively every 72 hours.
More information on ISU’s COVID-19 response can be found at the ISU Roaring Back website.
Boise State University
Boise State University’s (BSU) decision to not mandate student testing came after much deliberation.
In June, BSU announced testing would be mandatory for students living on campus. According to BSU Assistant Director of Content Communications and Marketing Cienna Madrid, the decision to reverse this requirement was made public in July. The decision was based on limited local availability for testing such a large group.
“Testing for asymptomatic individuals is not readily available in the Treasure Valley,” Madrid stated in an email. “Requiring all 3,000 students living on campus to test negative for (COVID-19) before moving in would have diverted already limited testing resources in the Valley.”
Madrid said timeliness of test results was also considered an issue.
BSU is offering a mix of in-person, online and hybrid courses this semester. Unlike other schools, BSU plans to remain partially in-person after Thanksgiving break with limited exceptions, according to its website.
Students had to take the Bronco Health Pledge in conjunction with watching a safety video at the start of the semester.
BSU put out an app to further promote self-monitoring symptoms.
“(It is) a customized symptom tracker app that students/faculty/staff are encouraged to use every time they come to campus,” Madrid said. “(It) lets them know that it is safe for them to do so.”
Locations on the BSU campus have been adjusted for social distancing, with seating moved to maintain six feet of distancing and markings to direct foot traffic.
Additional information on BSU’s COVID-19 response can be found at the BSU COVID-19 response website.
Lewis Clark State College
Lewis Clark State College’s (LCSC) Fall 2020 plan has not made testing mandatory for students.
LCSC Director of Communications & Marketing Logan J. Fowler said the college had taken into consideration the possibility of mandatory testing, but ultimately decided against it. “All of this has been made in close consultation with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Public Health,” Fowler said.
Before arrival, students moving into residence halls must answer screening questions to evaluate for potential symptoms. Students showing symptoms deemed “high-risk” may be instructed to self-isolate and get tested.
LCSC students from hotspot areas are expected to self-isolate before returning to campus.
Like other Idaho colleges and universities, LCSC courses are offered in person, in hybrid formats and fully online.
Face coverings are required on campus and the college’s website stated face shields or plexiglass barriers are not adequate replacements. This is based on recommendations from the CDC and public health officials.
LCSC will transition to online delivery following Thanksgiving break. The college also has a health pledge, the Warrior Wellness Pledge, which details LCSC’s requirements regarding masks, disinfecting and symptom monitoring.
The LCSC website provides a list detailing capacity of classrooms on campus. Other on-campus changes include altered cleaning protocols, directing foot traffic and adding plexiglass instructor stations.
Further details on LCSC’s fall plan can be found on the LCSC COVID-19 website.
This article has been updated to include more thorough information on ISU’s testing recommendations.
Richard Pathomsiri & Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected].