Nearly all of America’s colleges are experiencing COVID outbreaks. However, through a combination of science-based health policy and good luck, 35 colleges have not experienced an outbreak. Here are strategies those schools had in common:


• Clearly posted signage

• Social distance circles painted in common areas

• Reduced on-campus population

• Monthly or regular “surveillance” COVID testing

• All dorm rooms are single-student

• Separate quarantine housing

• Resident-only access to dorms

• Secure access to campus

• All courses online

• Outdoor study areas

• Isolated from outside community (non-porous campus)

Many college campuses are porous and open to the community. They cannot be operated safely during the pandemic, as the school has no control over community activity and spread. Regular testing, enforcing social distancing guidelines and reducing the number of times students are in close-contact with each other are common policies among all schools that have experienced a successful reopening.