As 农夫导航 concludes its first semester in a pandemic, data from contract tracing and survey testing reveals there were no known COVID-19 transmissions from traditional in-person classes, formal campus events or use of public spaces such as the library or dining services.
Sean McGreevey,鈥痙ean of鈥痵tudents and head鈥痮f鈥疊ellarmine鈥檚 Rapid Response Team, said the data instead connects cases most often to living situations, either at home with COVID-positive relatives or roommates, or to informal off-campus gatherings and social connections.
鈥淥ur findings are consistent with schools across the nation,鈥� McGreevey said. 鈥淭he safety measures, when properly and consistently implemented, are very effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in campus settings. That should give current and prospective students peace of mind.鈥�
According to , 鈥渨ith precautions in place, classrooms and other formal on-campus spaces aren鈥檛 important vectors of viral spread.鈥�
叠别濒濒补谤尘颈苍别鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;Welcome Back Plan requires cloth face coverings on campus, physical distancing, additional cleaning measures and a screening process before visitors may enter campus.
The university also developed a mix of class types that allows for optimal learning in a safe environment during the pandemic.鈥�
In-person classes are possible when the scheduled classroom can accommodate physical distancing. Online classes are taught completely online, but each includes synchronous, or 鈥渓ive,鈥� elements. HyFlex (for 鈥渉ybrid flexible鈥�) classes blend in-person and online experiences. For example, half of the students might attend in person on Tuesdays, with the other half online, and the two groups would then switch on Thursdays. Students may also opt to take everything online.鈥�
Of the 1,070 courses offered in the Fall 2020 semester, 36 percent were HyFlex, 33 percent were online and 17 percent were completely in person. (The remaining 14 percent were more individualized offerings, such as clinicals.)鈥�
The class offerings have been popular with current students, with approval ratings averaging 75 percent or higher.鈥��
鈥淚 love my HyFlex classes,鈥� said Trey Grevious, a senior majoring in communications. Three of his five courses were taught in the hybrid format, with each student meeting once per week in person and once online. His other two classes were taught completely online.鈥��
The HyFlex approach allows proper physical distancing but 鈥渟till allows me to interact in person with my classmates,鈥� Trey said, 鈥渁nd I appreciate that so much.鈥濃��
Bellarmine also implemented a robust survey testing program in which students, faculty and staff are randomly selected, thereby identifying asymptomatic cases. The cases are updated weekly on the university鈥檚 public dashboard.
The Chronicle of Higher Education article noted that such survey testing has been critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19: 鈥淐oming into the fall term, colleges had鈥痺ildly different testing strategies. Researchers are still studying the impact of those policies, but the top-line results are clear鈥ontinuing to test asymptomatic students throughout the term is necessary to identify and deal with outbreaks before they careen out of control.鈥濃��
McGreevey said the results are definitive: The guidelines enabled a safer semester on campus.
鈥淲e profusely thank our students and their families for understanding the need for these protocols and carefully following them.鈥�