From weekly COVID testing to modular housing, Hamilton has made a considerable investment in making sure students could safely return to campus this semester. According to Karen Leach, Hamilton’s Vice President for Administration and Finances and co-chair of the COVID-19 task force, the school will spend an estimated $7.2 million on COVID-19 related measures for the fall semester alone, with total expenditures projected to be between 10 and 12 million dollars by the end of next spring. Pre-testing of students prior to arrival cost the school around $225,000, and Leach expects the school to spend around $1.4 million on the estimated 55,000 tests that will be administered throughout the semester. Hamilton will also spend around $1 million on hotel spaces for quarantining, whether or not these spaces are used. Other expenses include modular housing, plexiglass for public spaces, tents and furniture, and a modified food service.

These sudden and unforeseen expenses have led Hamilton to cut back on spending in other areas. Leach explained how construction projects like the renovation of List were put on hold until further notice, along with plans to issue bonds to help pay for them. The school also decided to forego all salary increases for its employees with the exception of union workers by contract. Additionally, there are around 15 positions in the school’s 800-person staff that were left open to help minimize expenses. Hamilton has hired a number of temporary employees to help with testing, and some of the current staff were also assigned new duties. While this semester has cost Hamilton a considerable amount of money, the school is saving money in other areas. With the cancellation of sports seasons and large events, the money that would have been used to hire speakers and transport athletes to sporting events can instead help offset the COVID-19 costs; however, Leach is not sure yet by how much.

These numbers are all estimates based on how much the school has spent so far, and given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, they can easily change. Outside social spaces have been extremely important this semester, and the administration is still working on a replacement for these outdoor spaces once they close due to the winter weather. Leach says she plans to meet with the Board of Trustees on Oct. 2, where she will present better estimates. Altogether, the school has invested millions of dollars and hundreds of man-hours to make an on-campus semester a reality.