In an email sent to the DU community today, the university announced its strategy for winter learning. In order to combat the pandemic while maintaining on-campus learning, DU has decided to institute a new testing schedule.

Students living on-campus will now be tested twice a week, off-campus students will be tested once a week, graduate students will be tested every other week and faculty and staff will be tested every third week. These tests will be administered using the saliva PCR test as opposed to the nasal PCR test used in the fall.

Students athletes will be facing a more rigorous testing timetable as per NCAA regulations. Athletes, coaches, referees and other core training staff will be tested three times a week using the antigen test.

These changes come after review of fall quarter outcomes. Residential undergraduate students had a positivity rate of 11%. Athletes fell at 21%, and those living in fraternity and sorority housing experienced 31% positivity.

The university hopes this new testing schedule will help protect its students and promote a safe in-person learning environment. DU is convinced this atmosphere will be more feasible with the opening of the new Community Commons in January. The university believes the new space will create more areas for secure and distanced learning.

DU has reduced its quarantine window from 14 days to just seven days in response to amended CDC guidelines. Students will still need to complete the 10-day quarantine log before returning as well as provide a negative COVID-19 test and receive the flu vaccine.

The university will work with National Jewish Health to develop plans to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to the community. This story will be updated as further information becomes available next week.