As part of our extensive health and safety guidelines for students, Quinnipiac has designed a comprehensive COVID-19 testing program for students. This program requires students be tested before returning to Quinnipiac, again shortly after their arrival, and regularly throughout the semester. The testing program we have designed is a key component of our plan to bring students back to, and sustain, a healthy QU community and to be able to keep our campuses and classrooms open.
Before Returning to Campus
Timeline for Taking and Submitting Your COVID-19 Pre-Arrival Test
You should have already ordered and received your at-home test kit from Quest Diagnostics, based on the instructions we provided in our December 19 communication to you (available below). If you have not ordered your test, please do so immediately, as it takes 3-4 days on average to receive the kit after ordering.
The below table notes when you should take your at-home COVID-19 test based upon your return-to-campus date. All students living off campus in non-QU housing should follow the timeline for “commuters.” M1 and M2 students received a separate communication from their school with information on testing times and requirements. It is critical you follow these timelines to ensure sufficient time for your test to be received and analyzed by Quest, and for Quinnipiac to then approve your return to campus.
Student Cohort | Return to Campus Date | Date to Take Your Quest Test | You Must Ship Your Test to Quest... | Date of First On-Campus Test |
Residential Students, Group 1 |
Thursday, January 21 | Tuesday, January 12 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Thursday, January 21 |
Residential Students, Group 2 |
Friday, January 22 | Wednesday, January 13 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Friday, January 22 |
Residential Students, Group 3 |
Saturday, January 23 | Wednesday, January 13 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Saturday, January 23 |
Residential Students, Group 4 |
Sunday, January 24 | Wednesday, January 13 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Sunday, January 24 |
Undergraduate and Graduate Commuters | n/a | Sunday, January 17 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Saturday, January 23, Sunday, January 24, or Monday, January 25 |
Law Commuters | Monday, January 25 (on-ground classes) | Sunday, January 17 | No more than 18 hours after taking test | Saturday, January 23 |
Upon returning to Quinnipiac, students will be tested by the university through its on-campus testing program before attending in-person classes. Students will receive an email from QU with confirmation of their assigned on-campus testing dates.
Have questions about getting your COVID-19 pre-arrival test?
Review our Frequently Asked Questions for important information and deadlines about both the Quest pre-arrival test and submitting your own COVID-19 test if you choose not to use Quest.
Pre-arrival testing is required before a student can be cleared to move into their assigned housing, access our campuses, or engage in any in-person instruction. Questions about the student testing plan should be emailed to COVIDPretest@qu.edu
Upon Returning to Campus
Regardless of whether a student lives in university housing or off-campus housing, they are expected to limit their activities and movement outside their living unit upon return during our campus containment period. The university has partnered with the Broad Institute, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based genomic research center, to perform all of Quinnipiac's on-campus testing. This will be a non-invasive nasal swab test.
Throughout the Spring Semester
Targeted, weekly testing of asymptomatic students will be conducted throughout the spring semester. This is among the most important health measures we must sustain throughout the spring to protect our community, in addition to wearing face coverings and physical distancing.
Your participation is essential! This testing will help us effectively monitor for — and quickly mitigate — the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Here is a brief overview of how the weekly testing program works:
- Testing a portion of our students – Each week we will test approximately 20% of all Quinnipiac students. This will be accomplished by testing 15% of undergraduate students living on campus; 25% of undergraduates living off campus; and 15% of graduate students.
- Using a custom testing model – A team of Quinnipiac faculty has built a custom testing model tailored to our QU community. This means each week’s sample will intentionally include students in the testing pool from every residence hall and QU-owned house; every campus; undergraduate and graduate; on campus and off campus. This produces a highly representative testing sample that maximizes our ability to look for early signals of COVID-19 in specific areas of our campuses and student populations.
- Watch your email – Students who have been selected to participate in each week’s sample testing will receive an email from COVIDoncampustest@qu.edu They can participate in either of the two testing days offered. Testing is convenient, takes five minutes on average, and is held in Burt Kahn Court. Students may be selected more than once throughout the semester.
- Testing is mandatory – If you receive an appointment for the weekly testing, you must attend. Ignoring these testing clinics increases the risk of COVID-19 spreading undetected — and shortening our on-campus experience.
As a thank you, all students completing their testing each week will be entered into a raffle and 10 students a week will be awarded a $25 gift card.
Do your part to protect our community. Support our weekly COVID-19 testing and help us maintain a healthy and safe QU community.
Questions about the student testing plan should be emailed to our online Support Center at COVID19SupportCenter@qu.edu