Because we have both vaccinated and unvaccinated students on our Winona Campus, Saint Mary’s will conduct weekly surveillance testing of at least 10% of the student body there each week through December 2021. The testing will commence on Friday, Sept. 17, and be conducted by the Wellness Center. Participation in surveillance testing is mandatory for all students. Failure to submit to surveillance testing may result in fines, quarantine, or loss of university housing.
A student is exempt from surveillance testing if:
- The student provides documentation of a positive COVID-19 test within the past 90 days and/or
- The student is fully vaccinated.
The College student handbook provides that residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations, and health and safety guidance adopted by the university as it relates to public health crises, including COVID-19. This guidance will evolve as the public health crisis evolves and may include, but is not limited to, social distancing, limitations on mass gatherings, wearing a face covering, COVID-19 diagnostic and surveillance testing (including before or upon arrival to campus), contact tracing, disinfection protocols, limitations on guests into residence halls, and quarantine/isolation requirements (including before or upon arrival to campus).
This requirement for testing is not new. We conducted mandatory weekly surveillance testing of 10% of the student body all last semester.