Editor’s note: As of Sept. 16, move-in and testing schedules and location have been changed due to unhealthy conditions caused by wildfire smoke. Testing will begin Sept. 18 with a first move-in day of Sept. 19, and testing will take place at Matthew Knight Arena.
Students who will be living in residence halls have been advised on how to sign up for COVID-19 testing and a move-in time as the UO releases more information about on-campus living for fall term.
“We are excited and ready to welcome all first-year, transfer and returning students to campus,” said Michael Griffel, assistant vice president and director of University Housing. “All students living in our residence halls will be required to be tested for COVID-19 in Eugene, again three to seven days later and then regularly throughout the term.”
This testing is free for residence hall students, and a negative result will be required before they can move into their rooms. The email instructed students on how to sign up for a testing date and time and a subsequent move-in time on the following day. More information is available on the housing website.
If students need support for their overnight stay between the test and their results, they will be able to indicate this when they sign up for their test and move-in days.
Students are being asked to limit the number of guests brought to the testing site, Griffel said. Family members will not be tested but will be provided information should they want to be tested elsewhere while in Eugene.
The test will be a self-collected front nasal swab that is not considered painful. Test results from other providers will not be accepted.
University Health Services will notify students of their test results the next day.
Students and their families will be encouraged to limit their exposure to groups or others outside their family unit prior to traveling to Eugene to reduce the risk of exposure. After their COVID-19 test on campus, it will be mandatory for students and any guest traveling with them to quarantine while they wait for their COVID-19 test results.
“It is critical that our students and their families strictly quarantine while waiting for their test results. We cannot emphasize this enough,” said Roger Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management. “We are fortunate in Lane County that our infection rate and caseload has continued to be among the lowest in the country, and through our testing program we support our COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Testing our students is important for our entire community.”
If a student’s test result is negative for COVID-19, the student will be allowed to move into the residence halls as scheduled, with a limit of two guests to assist.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the UO case management team will work directly with the student to provide support and care.
“Our students will not be alone in this process, and we will do everything we can to support and care for them while they get healthy,” Thompson said.
Students can choose to isolate in a room provided by University Housing or return home for the duration of their isolation. More was explained to students in a video by Thompson sent Sept 9.
Griffel added that all students moving into the residence halls have signed a contract and addendum acknowledging protocols and behavior expectations for living on campus this year.