University return-to-campus strategy during COVID-19

The Challenge They Faced

Each year, the Samford University Emergency Readiness Team conducts two emergency drills. In October of 2019, after completion of a threat assessment analysis the team decided to hold a pandemic drill. This plan became reality when Samford shut down its physical campus, just five months later on March 17, 2020.

Like many universities, Samford University completed its Spring 2020 semester remotely. But as Summer came to a close, students began asking about the Fall semester. The university was focused on reassuring the students, parents, and staff that they were taking every precaution when considering a Fall return-to-campus strategy.

Samford University leaders knew that in order to return to campus safely, they would need a reliable COVID-19 testing solution. The Pandemic Response Team began evaluating testing options and creating guidelines for the type of test they needed.

They were seeking a testing solution that was:

• - Accurate and reliable, preferring the PCR format

• - Able to offer expedited shipping and provide test results quickly

• - Self-administered

• - Easy and painless for students and staff

• - Affordable

How Everly Health Solutions Helped

The Samford University Pandemic Response Team chose the Everly Health Solutions COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit, with its FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Samford liked the Everly Health Solutions customer service capabilities and the company’s ability to scale to ship a large number of test kits quickly.

The university began by testing all staff and faculty. At the university’s request, Everly Health Solutions overnighted 1,300 COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kits directly to the university. The Pandemic Response Team at Samford set up a drive-thru site on campus for staff members to collect their test kit to be administered and shipped to the lab from home.

Staff at the university were pleased by how easy and painless the test was to administer, and the Pandemic Response Team appreciated how quickly they received the results, within 24-48 hours of processing at the lab. Samford was then able to partner with the State of Alabama Guidesafe program which extended reentry testing to the student population as they returned to campus for the Fall Semester. This was achieved through a partnership consisting of many statewide universities working together.