Participation incentives for COVID-19 testing and screening

Community testing is essential to monitor the spread of COVID-19 on campus. It helps determine whether restrictions can be lifted, identifies asymptomatic students who may have COVID-19, and protects the safety and health of everyone on campus.

The university is offering incentives to individual students and groups for participating in community saliva testing and completing the daily health self-screening.

Individual participation incentives

The university is offering incentives for students who provide saliva samples and complete the daily health self-screening. Both commuter and residential students are eligible for prizes.

Students who provide a sample at a saliva testing event will be automatically entered in a weekly drawing to win gear from the VolShop and will earn points toward periodic drawings for technology packages from VolTech. Students also receive points by completing the daily health self-screening.

• Individual students who provide a saliva sample at a testing event automatically receive 1,000 points.
• Students also automatically receive 100 points a day for completing the health self-screening.

Students who are ineligible for community testing (that is, student–athletes and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days), as well as those who choose not to participate, are allowed to enter the contest by completing a form at 405 Andy Holt Tower by 2 p.m. each Friday. Each student can complete only one form per week for 1,000 points.

Winners will be notified by email with instructions for picking up their prizes. Drawings will begin the week of January 25. VolShop drawings will be held weekly through the week of April 12. VolTech drawings will be held every three weeks through the week of April 19. Points will reset every three weeks.

View a schedule with qualifying point tiers for each week.

VolShop gift packages

VolShop gift packages include six of the following items:

• Knit hat
• Socks
• Clear cross-body bag
• Scrunchie
• Sweater
• Volopoly game
• ID holder
• Smokey decal
• Checkerboard decal
• Water bottle
• Fleece blanket

VolTech technology packages

VolTech packages are valued up to $500 and include the winner’s choice of one of the following items:

• iPad with Apple Pencil
• Surface Go with keyboard
• TV
• Computer
• Gaming headset
• Gaming bundle
• Work-at-home bundle
• Media production bundle
• Social media/mobile bundle
• DSLR camera

Group participation incentives

The university is offering group incentives for students living in residence halls and sorority and fraternity houses. Groups have four opportunities to win prizes. Prizes will be awarded based on the highest average participation rate for the preceding three-week period.

Students should participate on the day scheduled for their residence group. If you miss that day, you should still participate. Your participation will still be counted with your residence group. You will also earn points for individual prizes and meet your requirement to participate. Fraternities will be combined into a single group, as will sororities.

The first prize to be awarded, announced the week of February 15, is a residence makeover worth $8,500. Residents will be able to choose from a list of enhancements:

• Adirondack chairs
• Games/cornhole/game shelf
• Outdoor patio lights
• Projector and movie screen
• Lobby wall graphic and decor
• Hammock stands
• TV and furniture upgrades

The next prize to be awarded, announced the week of March 8, awards a long-sleeve T-shirt to each student in the winning residence.

Residence groups are also eligible to win a Chick-fil-A biscuit breakfast. The first winner will be selected the week of March 29. The second winner will be selected the week of April 19.

Students who have previously tested positive for COVID-19, athletes, and students not assigned to the specific residence will not count against the group percentage calculation.