Lessons from managing a campus mumps outbreak using test, trace, and isolate efforts

•A 2017 mumps outbreak on a college campus triggered a test, trace, and isolate response.•Response teams documented average contacts per case and compliance with quarantine and isolation protocols.•We identify strategies to increase compliance with contact tracing efforts and quarantine and isolation protocols to reduce pathogen transmission on campus.•Lessons learned from the outbreak can applied to future outbreak management on college campuses, including SARS-CoV-2. In 2017, Penn State University's campus experienced a mumps outbreak that coincided with unrelated restrictions on social gatherings. University Health Services implemented testing, contact tracing, and quarantine and isolation protocols. Approximately half of the supplied contact tracing information was usable, ∼70% of identified contacts were reached, and