University reopening attempted by a third of 5,000 campuses came with devastating results. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill moved to online instruction after 177 students tested positive. University of Notre Dame also switched to online courses after 147 students were infected. The causes of these outbreaks are due to large social gatherings against rules.
University President Donna Carroll, in an email reply, notes the reduced traffic from decreased campus density and scheduled in-person classes is a reasonable response to a safe reopening. Carroll sees the university’s relatively small population as an advantage over managing COVID-19 risks.
She also mentions the university’s partnership with Rush University as an added security measure.
According to Barrington Price, Vice President of the Incident Management & Assessment Team (IMAT), said the team has studied previous re-opening plans of other institutions to make appropriate adjustments to Dominican’s plan.
A soft opening before fall is tested through the Physician Assistant (PA) program. The PA faculty and students took the first of class offerings during summer. The success of the group gives added confidence to the mitigation strategies, Barrington said.
Rush Health System Epidemiology team reviewed aspects of the re-opening plan, analyzed COVID-19 prevalence rates in Dominican students’ communities of residence, and informed the behavior of COVID-19 virus.
Carroll said the overseeing of the plan by Rush University, “helps me sleep at night.” She also finds confidence in the IMAT proposed strategies.
“We have a layered approach to safety, and our testing protocols are solid,” Carroll said.
Nevertheless, the most essential factor in maintaining safety is the individual responsibility and commitment to Caritas Commitment.
When comparing with other universities who reopened to disastrous results, Carroll distinguished Dominican University’s identity as a non-party school with students who carry family and job responsibilities. Carroll thinks Dominican students, “approach life with a maturity, that I respect — and trust.”
Price shares the same confidence, highlighting the social and community awareness typical of Dominican students.
“Our student body is uniquely focused on social justice and the greater good of society which I believe will drive their adherence to the Caritas Commitment,” Price said.
Contact-tracing, testing, and follow up care are the individualized plans for students. According to Price, the Wellness Center has restructured their work for efficient care to symptomatic students, students who came in contact of the virus, and those with families impacted by COVID-19.
Aside from the medical support, Student Success and Engagement (SSE), Care Team, and the Academic Alerts Team completes the support network for students.
Dominican University is the first university to partner with NowPow system to share data and community resources. Students can access the resources by submitting a Star Tracker Assistance form.
Photo credit to Dominican University Flickr
