The UNC Board of Governors is partnering with the N.C. Policy Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill to award $6 million in COVID-19 funding to the UNC System's six historically minority-serving institutions. UNCP is developing an epidemiologic transmission-dynamic model of COVID-19 in rural settings, such as Robeson County, and examine the unique challenges these areas face in terms of disease transmission and mitigation efforts, including extended family and rural cultural dynamics; the need to travel beyond county boundaries for employment opportunities; strained health care resources; and the lack of industry and infrastructure that reliably support remote employment. The university will also study the cognitive and affective influences on prevention practices, including vaccination.

A critical part of this research study is serology testing and participation in follow-up surveys and focus groups for selected participants. Participants will be selected from the UNCP campus and 6 public schools representing the wide geography of Robeson County.