Bryant Looks To Rapid Testing To Keep Campus Coronavirus-Safe

SMITHFIELD, RI —Bryant University president Ross Gittell said there was one positive case of the coronavirus detected — with more than 1,500 rapid tests conducted on campus —as of Wednesday as the school welcomed first-year students to campus.

Gittell said the student, who had just arrived on campus, and a "small number of students" identified through contact tracing were placed in quarantine.

The Smithfield campus, which has been home to mostly essential staff professionals since classes were forced online due to the emerging coronavirus crisis in March, reopened this week with most students returning to town even though many classes will have a remote component to them this fall. Move-in will continue over the next week.

"We face historic challenges resulting from the pandemic across the country and in higher education," Gittell said. "The health and safety of the Bryant community is the highest priority in our plans to bring students back for the campus learning experience that is a Bryant hallmark."

Gittell pledged transparency with the school community — and greater Smithfield community — through weekly reporting of its tests.

"Going forward, we will be sharing the weekly results of our aggressive testing protocols, with testing results reported on a seven-day moving average," he said.

With the goal of reinforcing social distancing, face mask, and other virus-safety protocols, the school has launched the #BeBryantStrong campaign in hopes that compliance to guidelines will help the RI campus avoid the types of outbreaks that some large universities have have dealt with in other areas of the country.

"We know that the pandemic presents serious, dynamic situations that can change overnight and we are closely monitoring the experience of institutions of higher ed that have already opened," Gittell said. "It is clear from scientific data and the unfortunate experiences of larger schools in other regions of the country, including Notre Dame and UNC Chapel Hill, that large social gatherings held off campus are a significant risk to the institution remaining open for the residential learning experience. It is also true that risk is mitigated by avoiding unnecessary trips off campus."

Gittell said the school will require mandatory testing for any student who leaves campus and returns later than 10 p.m. each night.

"Individuals who violate campus health and safety regulations more than once will be subject to loss of residency and university suspension without reimbursement, as well as significant
fines imposed by the state of Rhode Island," Gittell said.

Gittell said the school will also promote outdoor activities for students that include scavenger hunts, outdoor music performances and outdoor movies.

"This semester we will be innovative and take advantage of every inch of our beautiful setting and open space," Gittell said. "The Bryant team and spirit are very strong. This will help us through uncertain times and ensure that the fall semester will be productive and rewarding for our students despite historic challenges faced in our country and in higher education."

More information on student guidelines for returning to campus can be found here.

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