Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that Dining Services will provide a reservation system for residents. The article has been corrected to reflect that Dining Services will provide grab-and-go and order-ahead options for residents, but not a reservation system.
Announced at the end of May, the ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ community is making preparations for a COVID-19-ready campus for the fall semester, with classes beginning on Aug. 24. Three groups were established to assist in the implementation of the Road Map to Fall 2020:
- COVID-19-Ready Campus Team
- Academic Instruction Team
- Resource Alignment Team
These teams are hard at work building the infrastructure and procedures that will be necessary to mitigate risk and facilitate research and teaching this fall. As part of this iterative process, the teams are committed to sharing regular updates on their progress.
Online dashboard
A new campus dashboard went live this week and will be updated regularly. It has a section for tracking the number of positive cases that result from on-campus COVID-19 testing through Medical Services. The dashboard also includes information on isolation accommodations for on-campus residents and local conditions.Ìý
What fall will look like
The Road Map to Fall 2020 website has been updated with a section dedicated to detailed information and visuals about what fall will look like.Ìý
Town hall on Aug. 13Ìý
Chancellor Phil DiStefano, Provost Russell Moore and Interim Chief Operating Officer Patrick O’Rourke are hosting a town hall for faculty, staff and graduate students on appointment via Zoom from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13. Topics will include the latest information on our COVID-19-ready campus; academic instruction modes; and health and prevention protocols for the upcoming fall semester. The majority of the hour will be dedicated to a question-and-answer session.Ìý
More updates from the teams
- Housing and Dining Services contracted with the Hilton Garden Inn to house about 100 students for the fall semester.Ìý
- More than 1,500 students have taken advantage of the option to drop off belongings early or mail them to campus ahead of their arrival to help reduce congestion the week of move-in.Ìý
- Resident advisors moved into the residence halls on Aug. 8 and will be in training sessions throughout the week.Ìý
- Residence halls will open for student move-in Aug. 17–21.Ìý
- Dining Services will provide grab-and-go and order-ahead optionsÌýfor residents, beginning Aug. 17.Ìý
- The Facilities Task Force’s bus transit subgroup posted risk mitigation protocols for Buff Buses.
- Installation of open-air tents for multi-use spaces has begun.
- The Facilities Task Force coordinated the installation of 586 HEPA portable air filtration units in classrooms. Also, MERV-13 air filters have arrived and been sorted.
- The Facilities Task Force began installing 300 hand sanitizer stations at main building entrances. An order of 200 more is on the way.
- Bike route and pathway signage is under design as part of Protect Our Herd.
- Protect Our Herd signage was delivered on Aug. 8 and is being installed. Additional signage is in process. The Facilities Task Force began the deployment of operational signage.
- Protect Our Herd will soon begin daily social media posts highlighting what campus operations will look like in the fall semester.
- Campus science writers are writing stories on the science behind campus operations, emphasizing ventilation, testing and contact tracing. These will be shared in ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ Today and social media.
- Student Affairs partnered with the Academic Instruction Implementation Team to create a process for faculty and instructors to address non-compliance with safety measures in the classroom. Official guidance has gone to deans, chairs and directors from the Academic Instruction Implementation Team to forward to their faculty and other instructional personnel. A webinar series is underway to provide training to faculty and instructors on this issue.Ìý
Do you have a question or comment about implementation team work on the Road Map to Fall 2020? Submit a question or comment.