The university will use careful data analysis and establish trigger points that would initiate a timely and structured response when the risks of COVID-19 become unacceptable and the university must alter or change the academic calendar and campus operations. These trigger points include but may not be limited to the following:
- Early warning signs indicate imminent risk exceeds the university’s and community’s capacity to manage the spread of COVID-19 (surge capacity modeling, wastewater contaminants, and faculty, staff and student census reports).
- The on-campus and community health care systems have insufficient staffing, PPE, testing modalities, contact tracing and isolation/quarantine capacity to manage infections and illnesses.
- COVID-19 infection in the student population becomes more severe (pneumonia, respiratory distress).
- The university’s capacity to sustain operations is threatened (percentage of faculty and staff is not sufficient to maintain the integrity of the academic mission).
- The university is unable to access, analyze and track data effectively enough to inform key decisions.
- Escalating fear and anxiety that prevents students, faculty and staff from engaging effectively in campus operations.