GV COVID-19 campus data update

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 2,703 COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, March 26.  

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 92 current active cases including three members of faculty, five staff members, 24 on-campus students, 38 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 20 “off-campus Kent” students and two “off-campus other” student with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days.  This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 69,129 tests overall since August 21, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.28% from the latest update as of last week.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/Spectrum administered programs of randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

Student Senators update university on recent accomplishments, projects

Interim Grand Valley Student Senate President Grace McMahon led a discussion of Student Senate’s accomplishments and upcoming work at the second State of the Student Body address. Along with members of Student Senate, President Philomena V. Mantella was present for the address, which was held virtually on March 25. 

The Senate had a variety of successes to share. These included a collaboration with the Community Service Learning Center to register students to vote, Battle of the Valleys’ fall 2021 return and Student Senate Week events.

At the address, Senators also highlighted the ongoing Senate elections and the upcoming Center for Women and Gender Equity’s Take Back the Night event.

Science Olympiad holds competition remotely 

Throughout the week of March 15, GVSU held the Region 12 Michigan Science Olympiad tournament. The tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 last year, but this year, they figured out a way to hold it remotely. 

Middle and high schools competed in the tournament and eight teams from each division advanced to the state competition. The opening ceremony and awards ceremony were both held as virtual events. Even though the format was different this year, organizers ensured the same focus on what Science Olympiad was founded on.