Monday, Nov 9, 2020
Dear Students and Family Members,
We are pleased to announce that Rider will offer free student COVID-19 testing prior to your return home for the remainder of the fall semester. Testing will be available the week of November 16 for currently enrolled students who live on campus or who live off campus (but not at home) and who frequent campus for any reason (attending classes, meetings, rehearsals, practices, etc.).
Self-administered PCR saliva tests will be offered in the basketball practice facility behind Alumni Gym as follows. The facility is accessible from the sidewalk that runs between Alumni Gym and the SRC, closest to the parking lot.
- Monday, November 16: 12 to 4 p.m. (last time to arrive = 3:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, November 17: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (last time to arrive = 2 p.m.)
- Wednesday, November 18: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (last time to arrive = 12:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, November 19: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (last time to arrive = 2 p.m.)
Students will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis on those days — no advance appointments are necessary. You should plan on leaving a half-hour to conduct the test. It is important that you follow the instructions below prior to testing that day. Failure to do so may result in an indeterminate finding that must be treated as a positive case, requiring your isolation and potential quarantine for those with whom you’ve had close contact.
Avoid eating, drinking, chewing gum or smoking 30 minutes prior to taking the test.
Students can expect test results typically within 72 hours. You will receive an email from the laboratory announcing the availability of results via a confidential portal. Those who test on November 19 will receive their results early the following week.
The American College Health Association (ACHA) advises as follows: Students should be reminded that the test only reflects one point in time, there can be false negative results, and, in some cases, the virus may be contracted during travel. A negative test is not a license to end other preventative measures such as mask wearing and physical distancing. Students should also consider getting tested following the completion of travel.
If you plan on being tested the week of November 16, you must complete this brief form by Thursday, November 12, so that we can ensure availability of tests.
Please contact Chris Botti, Associate Dean of Students and Lead Contact Tracer, at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving,
Rider’s COVID-19 Implementation Team