Notre Dame enhances COVID-19 testing, policies as students return | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Notre Dame enhances COVID-19 testing, policies as students return Notre Dame enhances COVID-19 testing, policies as students return Published: January 28, 2021 Author: Notre Dame News COVID-19 With the return of some 9,000 students to campus this weekend for the start of the second semester Wednesday (Feb. 3), the University of Notre Dame has made extensive plans to address and help minimize COVID-19 cases. Every undergraduate and professional school student will be tested on a weekly basis this semester, and the University will offer and is encouraging surveillance testing to all faculty, staff, graduate students and postdoctoral students who are regularly on campus. The goal of surveillance testing is to identify asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people before they spread the virus. When there is concern about a possible pattern of contagion — for example, on the floor of a residence hall — the University is reserving test capacity as part of a supplemental testing strategy. In advance of the weekly testing, undergraduate and professional school students must schedule and complete a pre-matriculation test at the University Testing Center. They are expected to avoid contact with others until they receive their test result. Notre Dame undergraduate and professional school students also will be expected to abide by a new Campus Compact that clarifies and formalizes expectations for compliance with health and safety protocols, and outlines repercussions for failing to do so — up to and including suspension for the semester. The University also has arranged for an adequate number of rooms on and off campus for isolating and quarantining students who test positive or who have had close contact with someone with the virus. Notre Dame also will deploy the equivalent of 12 full-time employees to comprehensively manage contact tracing.  The University is hopeful that the enhanced testing, Campus Compact and the many continuing measures that were implemented last semester — including face mask requirements, classrooms with proper social distancing, limits on gatherings and visitors, and dining hall modifications — will keep the campus and broader communities safe. Posted In: University News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 Congresswoman Liz Cheney to speak at Notre Dame on the future of democracy September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 22, 2022 ND Forum keynote event to feature Emmy Award-winning actors in Theater of War Productions’ presentation of ‘The Suppliants’ in Notre Dame Stadium September 21, 2022 In annual address to faculty, Father Jenkins outlines campus-wide vision for elevating excellence September 15, 2022 Lilly Endowment Inc. grant helps to expand Notre Dame pre-college programs for Hoosier high school students For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn