Testing, Tracing and Considerations regarding 100% Move to Virtual Learning

Dear Bradley Community,

Bradley has posted its plans around testing, tracing and the considerations regarding the complete move to virtual learning during the fall semester. These plans will reside on the Coronavirus website. Below is an overview of this information, and we encourage you to review the complete plans online.

We know everyone is dealing with an extreme amount of stress due to the uncertainty of this pandemic, the constant influx of information and the ever evolving nature of even the tiniest of decisions you are trying to make in your life right now. To our employees, please remember that Bradley's Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling, guidance, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. This is a free program for all Bradley employees, even if you are not enrolled in Bradley's benefit plan. Please take advantage of this service if you need assistance.

Testing and Tracing

As you have learned, Bradley University will conduct ongoing COVID-19 surveillance testing of all students, faculty and staff who will physically be on campus in the fall. We have consulted with various health officials and a variety of sources to identify best practices for monitoring and controlling the virus’ spread. We have also received approval from the Peoria County Health Department on our testing plan.

Surveillance testing will be conducted at no expense through Bradley University’s Health Services each week, from Aug. 24 – Nov. 20. Approximately 250-300 individuals will be randomly selected each week. Bradley’s math department helped create the appropriate sampling size.

You can review the details regarding the testing and tracing plans and procedures here. You’ll find answers to who will and will not be tested, how to schedule your test, the testing procedure, how you’ll receive your results, what to do if you’re positive, how does contact tracing work, what to do if you’re experiencing symptoms and much more.

According to the CDC, entry testing has not been systematically studied. It is unknown if entry testing provides any additional reduction in transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with other preventive measures (e.g., physical distancing, cloth face covering, hand washing, enhanced cleaning and disinfection). The CDC does not recommend entry testing of all returning students, faculty and staff.

Considerations for Moving to 100% Virtual Learning

We have posted considerations regarding our threshold for pivoting to online learning during the fall 2020 semester. We have outlined the information used to guide our decisions. These considerations include but are not limited to the health of employees, campus positive case clusters, positive tests in excess of surveillance testing models, an escalation of the local or state COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, local hospital admission trends, upward trajectory of documented cases, and much more.

You can review all of the details regarding the consideration points guiding the institution here.

We urge you to visit the FAQs posted on our Coronavirus website to answer other questions you may have about fall plans. Please remember all plans are subject to change. Communications sent to students, faculty, staff and parents since Feb. 28, 2020, are posted on the coronavirus site under the communications tab. We’ll continue to send emails with updates, coming from the President’s office, the Provost’s office or Univcommunications. There will be many more decisions in the future so please check back regularly for updates. If you have questions or concerns, please send them to covid19concerns@fsmail.bradley.edu.

–Sent to the Bradley Family on 07/29/2020