UW-Madison announced its "Smart Restart" plan for welcoming students back to campus for the fall semester. Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared the plan with students, faculty, and staff in a message sent out on Wednesday.
UW-Madison plans to begin fall classes as scheduled on Sept. 2 with in-person instruction and a full curriculum. After Thanksgiving, UW-Madison will switch to a virtual format for the final nine days including exams. UW-Madison made this decision based on the likelihood that students leaving and returning to Madison over the Thanksgiving recess would increase the risk for COVID-19 infections on campus.
UW-Madison also implemented a three-part COVID-19 testing plan as part of their committment to reduce the risk of coronavirus for students, faculty, and staff.
- On-campus, drop-in testing centers will be available to the entire campus community. Visits will be unlimited and free of charge.
- Surveillance testing will track the prevalence of the virus on campus, including among those who are asymptomatic. Volunteer cohorts of 10 people will be tested on a rotating basis, with up to 2,000 people tested each week. This approach will allow us to identify problems quickly and target groups that may be at greatest risk.
- Targeted testing will be required of certain groups for whom we have a special duty of care. For instance, all students and staff in the residence halls will be tested regularly. (Residents of University Apartments will not be part of this.)
For students who test positive or may have been exposed to the virus and need to self-isolate, dedicated rooms with private bathrooms will be provided for students living on campus.
To read more go to WKOW: https://wkow.com/2020/06/17/uw-madison-announces-smart-restart-plan-for-fall-semester/