Penn State recently released its findings from surveys taken by students who completed university-mandated coronavirus quarantine or isolation periods.

The university said it plans to use these statistics to continue to improve students’ experiences over the semester and help affected off-campus students, too.

The survey, issued between September 7 and October 23, covered areas such as accommodations, food services, the experience before beginning quarantine or isolation, and experiences during quarantine or isolation.

Overall, 32% of surveyed students responded to Penn State’s study. Of the respondents, 86.5% said they were satisfied with the cleanliness of their room upon arriving, while 65.5% felt comfortable.

Additionally, just 57.4% of respondents said they were provided available resources for their overall health.

“The feedback of students who have recently completed their quarantine or isolation period is incredibly useful and important as we continuously work to make the experience as comfortable as possible and to improve the situation for other students,” Damon Sims, Penn State’s vice president for Student Affairs, said. “It is imperative that those who test positive or are identified during the contact tracing process complete their isolation and quarantine period. The health and safety of the broader campus and community depend on it.”

Meals have been the main event for those in quarantine, as evident by students on TikTok and even our own staffers. While 67.8% of students said they enjoyed the quantity of food per provided meal, only 38.7% actually said they enjoyed the food. 

Respondents were also asked about their experiences checking into Eastview Terrace’s quarantine and isolation dorms. 65.4% of students said they were satisfied with the instructions, but just 40% said necessary travel accommodations were provided.

Moving forward, Penn State said its team is working with Transportation Services to help provide travel options for students entering and leaving quarantine or isolation as the weather gets colder.

During quarantine or isolation, Penn State students were overall pretty satisfied with their time, according to the survey. 76% of students reported being satisfied with the speediness of staff members, while 78.6% found the staff members helpful.