With a little over two weeks, until classes resume at UTEP, today the University announced the details of its Coronavirus testing program that will begin August 17.
Starting the week before classes begin through August 21, UTEP will test faculty and staff who are currently or will be on campus for the fall semester. Testing will continue to be conducted through the first two weeks of school. After that time, faculty and staff will be randomly tested weekly for the semester.
Also, any students that will reside in campus housing will be encouraged to be tested before moving into dorms. Retesting will be available and encouraged every two weeks for the semester. No students will have roommates in campus housing.
All UTEP athletes will be tested starting the week of August 17. NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) guidelines will determine testing procedures and frequency during respective sports seasons. All athletes will be tested within 72 hours of upcoming sports events.
Students that begin classes on campus the week of August 24 will have the ability to start testing that week and throughout the semester.
All students, staff and faculty who will be on campus will be notified by email and will be provided a one–time consent form if they opt to take part.
There are four locations planned for testing; the Fox Fine Arts Complex lower level courtyard, the breezeway between the Engineering and Classroom buildings, the Union breezeway, and the Undergraduate Learning Center patio. These locations could be changed at any given time with prior communication.
The testing is designed for people not showing symptoms and people that do already have symptoms are encouraged to not come on campus.
After testing, results should be available by email within 24-48 hours.
Additional information about the testing program, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at www.utep.edu/resuming-campus-operations/testing.
UTEP lists its four-part strategy to combat COVID-19 as
1-Allowing students and employees to work and study remotely when they can. Only 25% of our fall classes have a face-to-face component, with only 5% fully face-to-face. The majority of our staff and faculty will work remotely this semester.
2-Using best health practices all the time. If you are sick, stay home. Cover your face. Stay 6 feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. We want Miners to lead the way, be positive role models for others, and establish a culture in our community that will help keep us all healthy.
3-Making efforts to make the campus safe for those who cannot work or study remotely. Classrooms have been reconfigured. Cleaning is enhanced. It will be easy to wash your hands and clean your desk before class.
4-Having a proactive UTEP testing program. We want to identify those who are sick and do not know it so that they can stay home.
Prospector staff may be reached at [email protected]
