Ohio State urges students to get tested for COVID-19, depart early for holiday
As Ohio State's fall semester comes to an already early close, the university is encouraging students now to leave campus as early as this week if they are able, as COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the state.
Ohio State's academic calendar called for in-person instruction, where applicable, to continue through Nov. 25. Courses and finals are to be delivered virtually through the rest of the semester, which concludes Dec. 11, in an effort to minimize students leaving and then returning to campus around the Thanksgiving holiday.
The policy applies to main and branch campuses.
But in an update Sunday evening, OSU President Kristina M. Johnson encouraged students to leave before next week, if possible. Johnson asked all students who are returning home for Thanksgiving to get tested for COVID-19 early this week. For students whose classes are available virtually, Johnson urged them to leave campus as soon as they receive a negative test result. Students who can leave campus by this Friday will receive a five-day room and board credit, she said.
Faculty are also asked to accommodate students' requests to leave campus early, Johnson said.
Students who cannot leave campus early due to in-person laboratory or studio classes or unadjustable travel plans are asked to get tested this week and again next week, Johnson said.
“We provide these plans to help you return home safely and not spread the virus to your home communities, family and friends,” Johnson wrote in Sunday's campus update. “Our approach is based in part on the knowledge we have gained in our testing and monitoring program where the data tell us household transmission is the main driver of the spread of the virus, in addition to large gatherings.”
Positivity rates at Ohio State were fairly low throughout much of the fall semester, but have increased in recent days. On Friday, the seven-day average positivity rate jumped to 3.5%. Throughout October, that rate rarely rose above 1%.
To sweeten the deal for students who get tested and complete a moveout checklist, Ohio State is raffling off about 250 season football tickets for students to attend next year's Buckeye games.
Once students leave for Thanksgiving, they are not to return until January for the spring term.
The university had planned to begin the spring semester on Jan. 11 with one week of virtual-only instruction, but in Sunday's update, Johnson said Ohio State will now have two weeks of online instruction, with student move-in delayed until Jan. 18.
The virtual start to the spring semester could be further extended, Johnson said, “depending on how COVID-19 cases are trending in December and early January, and with the guidance of Governor Dewine and state and local health experts.”
Johnson also encouraged Ohio State employees to take advantage of the university's voluntary testing program and work from home when possible. jsmola@dispatch.com @jennsmola