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Dear Faculty and Staff,

Surveillance, such as COVID-19 testing, is a critical element in monitoring public health and is one of the reasons we have been able to keep COVID-19 levels low on our campus.  In an effort to increase surveillance efforts at a time when COVID-19-compliance fatigue and new variants are a concern, the University System of Maryland has asked us to increase our testing frequency through the use of rapid (Antigen) testing.

Consistent with this guidance from the USM and protocols developed by the University Health Team in consultation with local and state health officials, we will be increasing our testing efforts. Beginning the week of March 1, all SU faculty and staff who are on campus regularly (more than twice per month) must take an SU-administered COVID-19 rapid test at least every 14 days to maintain access to campus buildings.  Faculty and staff  must take their first test between March 1 and 14, regardless of the date of their last PCR test, and schedule their second test at least 10 days after their first. Appointment signups are . This will replace the former 30-day testing requirement for most employees.

All testing will take place in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall. Due to the large number of SU community members being tested each day, faculty and staff should not arrive earlier than 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Those arriving more than 15 minutes late will forfeit their test and must reschedule. If no appointments are available within the window for which you need testing to retain building access, please email covidtesting@salisbury.edu.

In addition, all faculty and staff are asked to fill out a  to allow SU to collect testing and vaccine information. This information will allow us to monitor the level of vaccination among members of our campus community and to better plan for the upcoming year.  This information will be held confidentially in Campus Health and can be completed in Gullnet.

Because we will integrate rapid testing into the new protocols, those who test positive will be asked to return for a follow-up PCR test and consultation. A Campus Health nurse and will provide additional instructions regarding off-campus isolation and quarantine, and following up with a primary care physician or other medical professional. Faculty and staff who test positive will be required to notify their supervisors.

The 30-day testing exemption granted for those who tested positive during SU’s monthly PCR testing mandate will end Sunday, February 28. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 via the rapid test will be exempt from testing during their isolation or quarantine period, but must schedule a test immediately after being cleared to return to campus and receive a negative result to retain building access if that return falls outside of their 14-day testing window.

SU faculty and staff who are taking classes virtually or in person must test weekly as SU students to retain access to campus buildings and offices. This will supersede the SU employee testing plan. For more information, please see the email sent to SU students regarding weekly testing.

Faculty and staff on campus less than twice each month should email covidtesting@salisbury.edu to determine a plan for testing every 30 days to retain building and office access. If you will not be on campus at any time for the balance of this semester, you will not be required to participate in testing.

Faculty, please note that beginning March 1, weekly COVID-19 testing will be required for all SU students. Class rosters will be updated at noon Sunday, March 7, with students not in compliance with the new requirement marked in grey-blue.

For questions, please email covidtesting@salisbury.edu. For the most up-to-date information about the University’s coronavirus efforts, please continue to visit the SU COVID-19 webpage. Thank you for continuing to do your part to #ProtectTheFlock.