Markedly heterogeneous COVID-19 testing plans among US colleges and universities

US colleges inviting students back for fall 2020 needed mitigation plans to reduce SARS-CoV-2 spread and identify outbreaks rapidly. Public communications about return-to-campus plans were often opaque. Testing plans at more than 500 institutions were highly variable and muddled, ranging from regular testing of students, staff, and faculty to no testing.