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How We Did It: How the University delivered a fall in-person experience

Statistics help tell the story

Dan Moos and Paula Santos
Dan Moos, assistant to Abigail Rider, vice president for Administration and Finance, one of the testing centers' site managers, talks logistics with volunteer Paula Santos, specialist with University events, in the Atrium of the Memorial Union, site of the surveillance testing effort. URI photo by Dave Lavallee
  • From Jan. 22, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020, 66,242 COVID-19 tests were administered, resulting in 920 positive cases and a 1.39 percent positivity rate. The positivity rate remained around or below 1 percent for much of the fall semester.
  • No reported transmission of the virus in the academic environment, or through any of the more than 540 student events, including kayaking, bike path trips, outdoors movies, yoga on the quad, lawn games, and more during the fall semester.
  • The removal of tons of furniture and the reconfiguration of every classroom and learning space in 150 campus facilities so there would be adequate distance among students.
  • 1,200 faculty participants in teaching and learning technology workshops or training sessions held in the spring and summer by the Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and supported by Information Technology Services.
  • 2,000 participants, including faculty and staff, trained with virtual learning and teaching tools such as  Webex, Zoom and new technology for synchronous teaching and learning.
  • Converted 110 classrooms for blended remote and local learning, supporting students in quarantine and isolation.
  • $1.6 million investment into technology supported learning, a significant step in achieving the Transformational Goal of creating 21st century classrooms across campus.
  • More than 110 virtual admission events to help recruit new students, and virtual summer orientation with more than 3,000 advising sessions to help support new students and family members.
  • 1,500 hand sanitizing stands assembled over two weekends at the start of the fall semester, and placed in every URI building.
  • 2,000, two-gallon buckets of surface sanitizing wipes distributed throughout campus.
  • 16,727 interior signs designed by Emergency Management printed by Printing Services and placed in every building by Emergency Management and Facilities Operations, providing direction on social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing.
  • 181 signs for the #rhodytogether campaign, developed by Marketing and Communications for distribution at key exterior locations.
  • From 2020 to January 2021, more than 100 direct email communications to faculty, staff, University affiliates and parents, many of which were promoted on URI’s social media channels and listed on its COVID-19 website.