Safe Return Weekly Update

July 9, 2020 @  3:08 p.m.

Our safe return to campus continues this week with additional researchers on campus, student updates on course reformatting, surveys and a webinar for staff, faculty training, and more.

Access
To date, 714 faculty, staff, and students have been approved for access to certain campus buildings. These are a combination of both recurring and temporary or limited access.

Gradual Return of Research and Creative Activities
We’re continuing to ramp up the resumption of a limited amount of research and creative activities (RCA) on campus with enhanced safety protocols in place. As of July 7, 19 research labs or studios had been approved to return 33 researchers to campus, including labs from the College of Arts & Media, the College of Engineering, Design, and Computing, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

RCA coordinators continue to receive applications and work with researchers to prepare safety plans for approval to return additional research and creative activities to campus.

Two On-Campus Health Screening Stations
There are now two health screening stations on campus: the North Classroom building and Lynx Crossing Residence Hall. The North Classroom location is open from 8 a.m. – noon, Monday – Friday. The Lynx Crossing location is open from 7 – 11 a.m., Monday – Friday. Health screening station locations are marked on this campus map. Additional health screening stations will be added as more people return to campus.

The total number of on-site check-ins at both health screening stations the week of June 29 was 286—an increase from 249 the week prior.

Course Format Adjustments Completed
On July 7, students were notified that course formats and schedules for the fall semester had, for the most part, been finalized. About a quarter of all courses (over 700) are expected to have some on-campus presence (either fully on campus or hybrid), and 2,100 courses will take place either remotely or online. Adjustments to formats may still be made, due to limited spaced on campus.

For students who will need space on campus to access remote or online courses this fall, plans are underway to identify "landing zones" where students can work.

Students, Faculty, and Staff Surveyed
All students, faculty, and staff have had the opportunity to participate in surveys on their preferences and concerns regarding returning to campus this fall.

Student and Parent Forum Next Week on Fall Semester
A Fall 2020 Information Webinar for students and parents will take place Tuesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. A panel of seven experts will field questions on course format, safety protocols, student life, and more. Students are encouraged to submit questions in advance and register to attend the webinar. Faculty and staff who would like to attend the webinar to observe are welcome to do so.

Faculty Receiving Training in Online Course Delivery
Hundreds of faculty continue to participate in a number of professional development opportunities, including the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning’s self-paced Design and Teach an Effective Virtual Course and the School of Education and Human Development’s Hybrid-Flexible Teaching Summer Academy.

Town Hall on Partial Staff Return to Deliver Essential Services
Staff units are continuing discussions about essential service delivery for the fall. A unit safe return guide on how to create staff safe return plans was sent last week, and a town hall for unit leads to ask questions and voice concerns about safe return plans took place July 8. View the full webinar below. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Cleaning Supplies
In preparation for the safe return to campus, Facilities has procured a two-month, $28,000 supply of PPE and cleaning supplies. Supplies will be re-ordered as needed to ensure that classrooms and offices remain sufficiently stocked.