Student_Affairs_Annual_Report_2021

STUDENT AFFAIRS 10 ANNUAL REPORT center within the Avera Student Center in August 2020. Hundreds of symptomatic students were screened, tested and supported on campus and within walking distance of the residence halls. To date, no infection has been traced back to the testing location. In March 2020, the Counseling Center migrated to a telehealth model to continue to support students who faced a sudden disruption to their college careers. College students have reported increased anxiety and depression throughout the pandemic. The team in the Counseling Center was flexible and creative in its efforts to continue to support students. Thanks to Northern’s partners at the South Dakota Department of Health and Avera St. Luke’s, NSU was the first in the Board of Regents to host a mass test event in September 2020. This was followed by four additional mass tests and vaccination appreciation events. Northern can also proudly boast being one of two South Dakota Board of Regents institutions with an on-demand asymptomatic testing program. And unlike the other institution, Northern does not have a medical school and laboratory. “Innovative thinking and our partnerships have made all the difference,” said Blackburn. Team members worked day in and day out within feet from a testing site, willingly walked into an isolation building housing COVID-19 infected students, and more recently invited the campus to participate in a saliva-based asymptomatic testing program within the Student Affairs Suite. “What has been accomplished this semester is nothing short of impressive and demonstrates to all our commitment to student health,” noted Heather R. Aldentaler, Director of Counseling Services. Spring 2021 COVID-19 trends from the Daily Activity Report issued from the Dean of Students Office. Table 1 2020-2021 Mass Test Event Statistics Date: F/S: Students: Total: Positive: Positive Rate: Test Type: 5/4/2021 4 5 9 0 0.0% Saliva/PCR 3/15/2021 5 17 22 1 4.5% Saliva/PCR 3/1/2021 21 11 32 1 3.1% Saliva/PCR 1/13/2021 * * 110 4 3.6% Nasopharyngeal/PCR 9/30/2020 * * 191 1 0.5% Nasal/PCR Note. The September and January mass tests were predominantly faculty and staff and conducted by Avera St. Luke’s. The March and May mass test events were conducted by Student Affairs. All mass test events were in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Health. Table 2 2020-2021 Student Case Statistics Case Type Individual Students: Confirmed Positive 223 Confirmed Recoveries 223 Symptomatic/Ill 98 Close Contact 339 Total Cases 660 Note. Case numbers represent unique individual students who experienced a COVID-19 related situation. A significant number of students experienced more than one close contact or were symptomatic prior to testing positive for COVID-19. These numbers only represent one final category per unique student and do not reflect the total number of student quarantine or isolation experiences. A Year On The Frontlines, continued…