Random testing dashboard is live

We continue our streak of cool weather. It was about 50 degrees when I let my Deac Dogs out on the deck this morning and it was quite crisp. Hope that our students will take advantage of the good weather and all the tents and be outside while it is so beautiful.

Today I have some quick hits from several different parts of campus:

There is a new Campus Health Update on our COVID dashboard. In addition, the results of our random testing now has its own graph. I’ve taken a screen grab (below, click on to enlarge) but you will be able to see it yourself on the website. Couple things to note: 1) this dashboard shows known, verified tests through the University’s testing of asymptomatic students. It does not reflect tests given to symptomatic students, faculty or staff or results shared through other testing protocols; 2) because we are only doing random testing a couple of days each week (and then it takes a few days to get the results back), I would anticipate this random dashboard will not change daily, but more like weekly (once we get all the results back from a given week’s random tests); and 3) the numbers here of asymptomatic positives is really low, which is incredibly encouraging.

So the next time you talk to your Deac, please thank them for the work they are doing to stay safe. College students have taken a bit of a beating in national media about lack of adherence to COVID guidelines, but our students are being really good citizens. I hear over and over at meetings that our students’ attitudes and behaviors are making a profound difference. They are doing it right – so thank them, and remind them to keep it up.

In other news, for Deacs who are still looking for study spaces, I was told yesterday that in the Sutton Center lower gym we now have 88 work station tables with power, wifi, and restrooms. Those do not require reservations.

Have a Deac in quarantine? Wake Washington and the Office of Alumni Engagement are partnering to provide a unique opportunity for students who are officially quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. For any WFU student in quarantine, we will match them up with an alumnus/a, in DC or anywhere else that interests them, to have a chat by phone or Zoom about their career, job search, networking, life after college, or just a fun conversation with a friendly Wake Forest voice. Students in WFU quarantine can find more info on how to request this support here (students must be the one to complete the request form).

Our ’24 students got an email about Hit the Bricks today. HTB is such a great thing to be a part of. Please urge your new students to get involved!

We’ll close today with a shot from the Quad Cam. Since I am working from home, I like to check out the Quad Cam from time to time to see what is happening. While normally the best, most colorful of the fall foliage happens between maybe October 25th-November 10th, we are seeing a hint of the red maple closest to Reynolda Hall (lower left of this picture) starting to change. Keep your eye on it over the coming weeks.

— by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)