Despite a recent influx of cases, the University of Wyoming moves into Phase 3 today. This means more on-campus classes and activities – and more testing.
Face-to-face instruction has thus far been limited to only a few classes – first-year seminars and a select few graduate courses. Now, all campus buildings will be opened to the fullest extent possible under the current state health orders.
Classes will be a mix of in-person and hybrid instruction, and some other non-class activities will be allowed to proceed and enhanced cleaning will be undertaken across campus.
This comes with a list of expectations for UW students and staff. Face coverings and physical distancing are required at all times on campus.
The testing, tracing, and isolation that have been practiced from the beginning remain just as important in Phase 3, as it has since campus reopened earlier this year. UW will continue working with Vault Health for the bridge testing program for students – a collaboration in place since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
There will be weekly appointments for all students and staff engaging in in-person to get tested at the Wyoming Union Ballroom. By mid-October, the university projects that 6 thousand tests will have been administered.
As of noon Thursday, there were 130 active cases of COVID-19 among UW students and employees — detected through bridge testing, testing by UW Student Health Service and external providers.
Phase 3 isn’t the final phase of UW’s reopening plan. Phase 4 is scheduled to begin November 23 and continue to the end of term, December 11. All courses and finals will be administered online, as students will be leaving residence halls for home.
