Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 30, 2021

COVID-19 Response Strategies at Large Institutes of Higher Education in the United States: A Landscape Analysis, Fall 2020

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  • 93% of the 50 largest public and 50 largest private US institutions of higher education offered some in-person teaching for the Fall 2020 semester, according to a landscape analysis of the COVID-19 response strategies. Among those offering some in-person teaching, 71% offered a hybrid reopening structure (≥25% students on campus). Among the 93 of institutions that employed mitigation strategies, 100% adopted masking and 98% adopted physical distancing mandates. Other strategies included reducing the density of on-campus housing (58%) and reducing classroom density (61%). 57% required entry testing for SARS-CoV-2 upon arrival to campus, 32% required testing at regular intervals for students, and 61% had institution-based contact tracing strategies. More private than public institutions implemented intercollegiate athletics bans, behavioral compacts, and suspension clauses for noncompliance.

Freeman et al. (Apr 1, 2021). COVID-19 Response Strategies at Large Institutes of Higher Education in the United States: A Landscape Analysis, Fall 2020. Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.016