The COVID-19 Response in Nebraska: How Students Answered the Call

This case study describes how the Student Response Team (SRT) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center assisted the local health departments in mitigation and response activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SRT was a voluntary student-led effort that assisted in health contact tracing, monitoring social media, and education the public. Their experience demonstrates how students can increase the public health surge capacity of local health departments while gaining applied experience during public health emergencies. The recommendations include forming, training, and deploying SRTs throughout academic institutions to implement during and beyond the current pandemic.