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Testing requirements for spring quarter for new undergraduates

The Dean of Students and Vaden Health Services provide guidance for undergraduates who will be living on campus this spring for the first time since March 2020.

Dear undergraduates,

We are writing today with a step-by-step guide for our spring quarter COVID-19 testing program and a brief overview of the expectations for gatherings and restricted activity. Please read this entire email, and take note of the action items in your personal calendar. All testing is provided at no cost to students. Student-athletes should check in with the athletics department for testing guidance.

Here is a short summary of the tests we will use.

  • A required rapid test at your dorm check-in location on the day you arrive, for those arriving March 24-28. This test will also be available and required for students who arrive after hours (as late as 9 p.m.), and involves a mid-turbinate nasal swab that is performed by the student, while being observed by a healthcare professional. You will receive the results in 8-16 hours.
  • A required Verily Health Services test within 24 hours of your arrival. The testing site is Tresidder Memorial Union. Verily is our vendor for twice weekly testing for undergraduates during spring quarter. The test involves a mid-turbinate nasal swab that is performed by the student, while being observed by a healthcare professional. You will receive the results within 24 hours.

You will also be required to complete Stanford Health Check daily.

  • Health Check tracks the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms among students on campus. Personal information remains confidential. If you are experiencing symptoms, immediately contact Vaden Health Services at (650) 498-2336 or your healthcare provider.

These requirements apply to everyone, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. 

  • The university is studying CDC guidance and will update the campus community about any changes.

Here are step-by-step instructions for students who are new to campus for spring quarter. Add these dates to your calendar.

  1. Seven days before you arrive on campus from the United States or abroad, register for your first twice weekly test with Verily. Go to the Verily website (https://healthy.verily.com/), create an account, and when prompted for your home address, enter “Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 94305.” You use this address because you will take the Verily tests when you are on campus. Make an appointment for one hour after your dorm check-in time. If you are checking in after 1 p.m., make an appointment for the next day.
  2. The morning of the day you arrive on campus, complete the Stanford Health Check (https://healthcheck.stanford.edu/login). Set an alarm on your phone so that you remember to do this every day while you are living on campus.
  3. When you arrive on campus, take a same-day rapid test at your dorm check-in location.
  4. AND, if you arrive before 1 p.m., leave your luggage at your dorm and then go to Tresidder Memorial Union to take your first test with Verily at your appointment time. Bring your student or government issued ID.OR, if you arrive after 1 p.m., spend the night in your dorm room and then go to Tresidder Memorial Union the next day and take your first test with Verily at your appointment time. Bring your student or government issued ID.
  5. 24 hours after your first test with Verily, make an appointment for your next test in compliance with Stanford’s twice weekly testing requirement (test once within each test window, the test windows are Monday-Wednesday, and Thursday-Saturday). Important! Make one appointment at a time. If you make a second one, your first appointment will be canceled. And if you can’t go to your appointment, cancel it with Verily. This way, we can offer the spot to other students.

Testing positive

  • If you test positive before arriving on campus, file a help ticket with Housing Assignments to arrange a new arrival date and send a copy of your positive COVID test (attached to a secure message) to Dr. Robyn Tepper through the Vadenpatient portal.
  • If you test positive after arriving on campus, Vaden Medical Services will call you. You will be provided on-campus isolation housing, meal delivery and medical care. The isolation housing will be closely monitored and overseen by medical and professional Student Affairs staff members.

Restricted activity and gatherings during spring quarter

  • All undergraduates, including those approved to come to campus to do research, will be in a period of restricted activity ending April 7. Restricted activity means you can leave your residence for twice weekly testing with Verily, for medical care, to pick-up meals if you have a Stanford Dining meal plan or if you have groceries or prepared food delivered and for solo outdoor exercise.
  • Undergraduate students will be able to form households and will be able to gather indoors and outdoors with their households on April 7.
  • If conditions continue to improve, we will begin to allow gatherings of up to 3 households with no more than 12 students on April 14.
  • Here is more information on spring quarter.

Questions?

Thank you for reading this email carefully. We know this is a lot to take in. We have posted more information on our undergraduate testing program. If you have questions about Verily registration, services and test sites, please submit a ServiceNow ticket. When you arrive, we and our colleagues will be here to greet you and help you. We will get through this together!

Sincerely,

Mona Hicks
Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students

Dr. Jim Jacobs
Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director, Vaden Health Services