All University operations continue as mandatory testing begins for students.

As the University begins mandatory testing of students today, it wants to assure students, faculty and staff that all in-person classes and University operations remain in effect. The University continues to operate as it has since the start of classes Sept. 9.

On Monday, Oct. 5, the University announced it would implement mandatory COVID‑19 testing for all students, both on- and off-campus residents, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health. The beginning of such testing will not change the delivery of in-person, online or blended classes, and all University operations continue as they have since the beginning of the semester.

The purpose of this mandatory testing is to assess the overall health of the entire student body at the University and establish a baseline data set to measure population health for the remainder of the fall semester. The University continues to be within the positivity rate recommended by the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit the URI COVID-19 Tracker for daily updates on testing rates.

Two testing locations will be set up for asymptomatic testing at the Memorial Union Atriums and The Ryan Center parking lots. The actual test will be painless and self-collected (a 1/2-inch cotton swab in each nostril, not the nasopharyngeal collection) and observed by a trained University member or department of health partner. The test takes 5 minutes on average, depending on time of day and number of people also taking the test.

If a student is ill or has any COVID-19 symptoms, please DO NOT present for an asymptomatic test. Instead, they should call URI Health Services at 401.874.2246 and we will schedule a test and telehealth visit.