COVID -19 Dashboard

Alma College is committed to transparency in providing information about testing and cases of COVID-19 within our campus community.

The chart below provides recent data on COVID-19 testing, positive cases, and recoveries. All data are cumulative. The total testing population at Alma College is the approximately 1,700 students, faculty, staff, and contract workers who are on campus.

Please note that if have been impacted by COVID-19 exposure and you need to of self-isolate or quarantine, you will be contacted by a staff member who will provide assistance with the next steps.

Winter 2021 COVID-19 Testing and Results

Last updated: June 1, 2021

Asymptomatic Tests  18,360
Symptomatic Tests  107
Positive Cases  103
Recovered  103
   
Return to Campus Tests 1,314*
Positive Cases 8
Recovered 8

*Note: Totals for Return to Campus testing are based off of a remote, pre-testing campaign of students, staff and faculty that took place in early January, prior to the start of the winter 2021 term, and thus are not included in the larger total of asymptomatic tests.

Testing Updates

May 3 – Due to the smaller student population during Spring Term, wastewater testing of residence halls has been suspended. Students living on campus during Spring Term who have NOT received a COVID-19 vaccine will be subject to antigen testing three times per week. We believe this will be a more effective and efficient testing process for students remaining on campus during Spring Term. 

Apr. 26 – Wastewater testing results indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in two residence halls. Testing is being scheduled for residents of those halls.

Apr. 22 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Apr. 19 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Apr. 15 – Wastewater testing results indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in one residence hall. Testing is being scheduled for residents of that hall.

Apr. 12 – Wastewater testing results indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in one residence hall. Testing is being scheduled for residents of that hall.

Apr. 8 – Wastewater testing results indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in one residence hall. Testing is being scheduled for residents of that hall.

Apr. 7 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Apr. 6 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Apr. 1 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 31 – Wastewater testing conducted indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in two residence halls. Testing is being scheduled for residents of those halls.

Mar. 29 – Wastewater testing conducted indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells in one residence hall. Testing is being scheduled for residents of that hall.

Mar. 25 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 22 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 18 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 17 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 15 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 11 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 8 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 4 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Mar. 1 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 25 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 22 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 18 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 15 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 11 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 8 – Wastewater testing results do not indicate the need for further COVID-19 testing.

Feb. 7 – On Feb. 5-6 the college conducted PCR testing on more than 230 students from two residence halls indicated for testing by wastewater sampling, with one positive result. 

Feb. 5 – Wastewater testing conducted on Feb. 4 indicated the presence of COVID-19 cells at two residence halls. Testing has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, for the residents of those halls.

Feb. 3 – On Feb. 3, the college offered voluntary PCR testing for faculty and staff along with testing of an athletic team. All 180 individuals that were tested on Feb. 3 received a negative result. 

Feb. 2 – Wastewater testing conducted on Jan. 31 did not show the need to test any residence halls.

Jan. 29 – Wastewater testing conducted on Jan. 27 did not indicate the need to test any residence hall.

Jan. 28 – On Jan. 27 some student-athletes and residents of South campus halls not covered by the wastewater testing were tested for a total of approximately 220 students, with one positive result.

Jan. 25 – Wastewater testing conducted on Jan. 21 was on the borderline to indicate needed testing for one residence hall. Approximately 190 students were tested, with 0 positive results.

Jan. 20 – Wastewater testing conducted on Jan. 18 indicated the need to test one residence hall. Approximately 150 students were tested, with two positive results.

Archived COVID-19 Testing Results

Fall 2020   

Asymptomatic Tests

Symptomatic Tests

Positive Cases

Recovered 

5,892

141

172

172

If you have questions, please contact the Wilcox Medical Center at (989) 463-7181.

Important Definitions

Asymptomatic test - Broad testing of the campus population to determine point-in-time data, unrelated to whether someone is symptomatic.

Symptomatic test - A test administered because an individual shows symptoms of COVID-19.

Recovered - The cumulative total of individuals who have tested positive and since were isolated and saw at least 10 days pass since symptoms first appeared. Individuals must also resolve any present fever without use of fever-reducing medications and suffer no respiratory symptoms for at least 72 hours. This definition is based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wastewater testing - In January 2021, Alma College began the process of collecting wastewater from student apartments and residence halls as a means of testing for COVID-19.

Individuals who have COVID-19 shed cells of the virus into the wastewater. Testing wastewater for COVID-19 is an efficient means of measuring the spread of the virus on campus — which can lead to a more specific, targeted testing campaign — in a private, passive way.

Read a Feb. 4 article in the Gratiot County Herald about our testing strategies for the winter term.