2021 Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Self-Assessment Calculator

The 2021 COVID-19 Self-Assessment Calculator, developed as part of the broader OpenSmartEDU initiative (collaboration between Tuscany Strategy Consulting, The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)), provides colleges and universities with a quantitative tool to assess COVID-19 related operational risk. Updated in July 2021 to reflect the widespread availability of vaccines and a better scientific understanding of airborne transmission, this version shifts emphasis toward ventilation and vaccination, and away from earlier overreliance on surface sanitation.

The calculator is designed to help institutions estimate baseline risk levels and evaluate how key mitigation strategies impact their ability to operate safely. While not a regulatory measure or reopening approval tool, the resulting risk score—ranging from very low to very high—is intended to inform institutional planning and prioritize health and safety interventions.

Key Features:

• Offers risk ratings based on current conditions and mitigation strategies such as:
  • Vaccination coverage
  • Masking and PPE use
  • Social distancing
  • Contact tracing and testing
  • Indoor air quality and ventilation
• Outputs a risk score category (very low, low, moderate, high, very high) to guide decision-making—not dictate it.
• Designed as a planning support tool, helping institutions adapt responsibly to changing pandemic conditions.
• Encourages evidence-based actions to reduce transmission risk while maintaining academic continuity.

This calculator complements the broader planning guide by translating institutional conditions into actionable risk insights to support smarter, safer campus operations.