Clemson University leadership, in conjunction with internal and external public health experts, announced the initial plan for COVID-19 testing for the 2021 Spring semester. With the continued priority of health and safety for all members of the community – students, faculty, staff and the surrounding population, the spring testing process will build upon the successful, aggressive testing procedures implemented during the Fall semester.
By regularly testing asymptomatic students, faculty and staff, the University’s goal remains to identify and isolate active cases to minimize the spread of the virus.
Broken into pre-arrival and in-semester testing periods, Clemson intends to test every student and employee prior to their return to campus and throughout the semester. With increased capacity provided through the University’s on-campus lab, capacity and turnaround time have improved drastically since the beginning of the Fall semester.
Spring 2021 begins Wednesday, January 6, and the University is anticipating more than 50% of all classes to have an in-person component, including nearly one third in a traditional in-person format. The number of students who requested and elected to be fully online in fall was 3,803, including undergrad and graduate students. Thus far 1,293 have signed up for all online for the Spring semester.
PRE-ARRIVAL REQUIREMENTS
For all students and employees, the University will accept the following POSITIVE tests completed within 90 days (October 1, 2020) for pre-arrival clearance:
- PCR Nasal
- PCR Nasopharyngeal
- PCR Saliva
- Rapid Antigen
The University will not accept a positive serological test at this time.
ON-CAMPUS RESIDENTS
Must provide two negative test results:
- Taken between December 28 and January 2 (prior to move-in beginning January 3 at 8 a.m.)
- On-campus saliva test completed immediately upon move-in
OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS
Must provide a negative test result completed on or after December 28.
Access to university facilities will be restricted beginning the morning of January 3 without proof of negative test.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Must provide a negative test result completed on or after December 28.
Access to university facilities will be restricted beginning the morning of January 3 without proof of negative test.
IN-SEMESTER TESTING
Beginning January 11, all faculty, staff, and students will be required to test weekly. Details will be provided prior to the beginning of the Spring semester.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Details about opportunities for on-campus residents to access testing options prior to arrival will be provided directly to residents in the coming days. South Carolina residents can find a listing of the testing locations provided by DHEC at https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations.
- Non-main campus students, faculty and staff will receive testing instructions and processes in the coming weeks.