Expanded Surveillance Testing Program
We are writing to share with you that Ohio State’s testing program will be expanded to include regular surveillance testing of asymptomatic graduate and professional students. This is part of the university’s multi-pronged strategy to inform our decision-making and mitigate and monitor the spread of COVID-19.
A surveillance testing program means that samples of students will be selected and tested for COVID-19; such testing is not in response to a known exposure or because someone is showing symptoms and does not require a self-quarantine period while awaiting test results. This allows the university to draw conclusions about the level of spread in the student population, identify asymptomatic cases for isolation, find potential hot spots and prevent further spread on campus and in the broader community.
You are receiving this email because you are eligible to be selected for testing. This is a required program for graduate and professional students who live off campus, have an assistantship that requires on-campus presence or are enrolled in, or teaching courses, labs or clinicals of any format at Ohio State (Columbus campus) for autumn semester. There are limited exceptions including for students who verify that they are taking all virtual courses and that they will not be visiting campus at all during autumn semester. Students are able to submit an exemption by visiting go.osu.edu/SHSexemption.
Beginning September 21, the university will conduct diagnostic testing on 1,500 graduate and professional students on a weekly basis at Jesse Owens North Recreation Center. Selected students will be notified later this week by university email and will be provided with instructions on how to schedule a test and next steps. Surveillance testing is free for students.
Participation in this program is required. Failure to respond and schedule a test during the required phase may result in a directive to quarantine until testing can be completed, loss of access to university spaces and a report to Student Conduct.
For more information about the surveillance testing program, please visit shs.osu.edu/covid-19/covid-19-surveillance-testing-program
Thank you in advance for participating in this important program and for your continued flexibility, cooperation and commitment. Together As Buckeyes, we will fight COVID-19.
Office of Student Life
The Ohio State University