Dear students,
The University of Tulsa concluded its return-to-campus COVID-19 testing initiative Tuesday, and I write now to share those results with you. The university tested all unvaccinated students regardless of residency status as well as vaccinated students who live in congregate housing (e.g., on-campus residence halls). In total, 1,024 return-to-campus tests were administered between Jan. 4 and 11, with 151 positive results and an overall campus positivity rate of 14.7%. There are currently 98 active COVID-19 cases in the TU community: 89 student, six faculty and three staff. These statistics have been published on our COVID-19 dashboard.
Further, our campus data reveals a noteworthy and downward trend in positive test results between Jan. 4 and 11. Although our overall positivity rate for the return-to-campus initiative stands at 14.7%, we observed a much lower positivity rate of only 4.9% among the 529 tests administered on campus Monday and Tuesday this week. We are cautiously optimistic that these more recent results foretell a downward trend in new cases over the next week.
Nevertheless, in consideration of our current campus positivity rate and active student cases, TU is extending its temporary campus safety measures for an additional week and will conduct a second round of surveillance testing of the student body on Tuesday, Jan 18.
The following campus safety measures remain in effect through Friday, Jan. 21:
- Students must continue to wear a face covering in all academic and administrative buildings on campus. Masks are encouraged, but not required, in residence halls, the Student Union and Collins Fitness Center.
- Faculty may teach in person or remotely next week. Your instructor will notify you if they choose to teach remotely.
- Five hundred students will be selected to participate in surveillance testing at the Student Union on Jan. 18 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Selected students will be notified via email on Thursday, Jan. 13.
The COVID-19 Management Team continues to closely monitor campus and community metrics. If you have not yet done so, please complete TU’s vaccination and booster verification form to notify the university of your vaccination status. Please also note that students are required to self-report to the university a positive COVID-19 test result or diagnosis, a known exposure to COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 using the COVID-19 self-reporting form for students.
If you have any questions, please send them to covid19@utulsa.edu.
Sincerely,
Matt Warren
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer