WACO, TX — Baylor University has announced it will randomly test students, faculty, staff and vendors for COVID-19 throughout the fall semester.
Participants will be randomly selected beginning Wednesday, August 26, with testing to begin on Monday, August 31. It will continue each week until Friday, November 20.
The university says test participants will be selected from the following groups:
- 175 faculty and staff working on campus
- 250 on-campus students
- 480 off-campus and online-only students who live in Waco
- 300 contractors
According to the university, participants will be notified on Wednesday of each week via email and given further instructions regarding testing location and appointment availability. They will have until the end of the week to schedule a COVID-19 test appointment for the following week.
Participants will then receive a PCR test using a nasal swab. Test results will be available within 24 to 48 hours.
Test results and number of tests administered will be provided on the Baylor Dashboard at 3 p.m. daily.
Student Activities will offer incentives to students who complete testing by the weekly deadline. Prizes include restaurant gift certificates, football tickets, a free parking pass for the semester, a designated parking spot, and textbook reimbursement.
Additionally, students will be entered in grand prize drawings for large prizes ranging from a $5,000 tuition scholarship to a free meal plan (on-campus) or Dining Dollars (off-campus).
All students, faculty, staff and vendors are required to test if selected. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
