COLLEGE STATION, TX — Texas A&M University has announced it will randomly select students for COVID-19 testing throughout the fall semester.
The testing is part of the university's COVID-19 Random Testing Program (RTP).
Beginning August 21, students will be randomly selected and notified to set up their tests. Students must schedule a test within 48 hours of receiving the email.
Texas A&M says the program will help the university understand how COVID-19 is affecting campus by "actively looking for where the virus might be hiding and where it might be moving."
Students living on-campus and off-campus qualify to be randomly selected. A tent will be set up on campus and testing should take approximately five minutes.
Roughly 5,000 students will be selected in the first round of testing.
Tests will be provided at no cost to students.
If a student tests positive, they will self-report through the university's report portal and receive further instruction.