ETSU President Brian Noland provided updates on the university’s COVID-19 response including progress, successes and future challenges in his report during a special called meeting of the ETSU Board of Trustees March 23.
These updates included the transition to all online classes for the remainder of the semester, the development of new operating procedures for staff to work from remote environments effective March 23, support structures for students and assistance to students remaining in residence halls.
“While the pace of change over the course of the past couple weeks at times has been overwhelming,” Noland said, “I want to stress that I could not be more proud of the faculty and staff at East Tennessee State University than I am at this moment for the manner in which they have responded to the changing world around them. Our faculty and staff worked throughout spring break to ensure that we were ready for classes to resume today.”
As part of the university’s effort to flatten the curve of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, public access to campus has been limited. Faculty have suspended on-campus research activities. All events on campus have been cancelled, and Noland said these cancellations are hard for an institution to absorb.
“Senior recitals, musical performances, presentations of honors and capstone research projects, have all been put on pause,” Noland said. “Now we’re hopeful that we can work through processes through which they can occur in virtual or online format. However, for those seniors who have worked for years to put themselves in a position for that capstone recital, or for student athletes who’ve had seasons cancelled, in many respects, it’s as if a piece of the institution has been removed.”
Noland noted the importance of moving students out of residence halls to reduce the possible spread of the virus as students return from spring break. Over the past week, the number of students living in residence halls has been reduced from about 2,700 to less than 500. Students, including international students and students without homes to return to, were offered the option of registering their intent to remain on campus.
Noland said grounds and custodial staff are cleaning and sanitizing buildings across campus. To ensure campus safety, all buildings will be locked. Only faculty and staff with keys can access facilities on a limited basis.
The Sherrod Library is now closed to visitors, but students can still access library resources online. The D.P. Culp Student Center and the Basler Center for Physical Activity are both closed.
Construction on remaining phases of the D.P. Culp Student Center and the James C. and Mary B. Martin Center for the Arts are continuing, and Noland says they will continue unless Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issues a shelter-in-place order.
“That’s jobs for local contractors,” Noland told the East Tennessean in a press call following the meeting. “So – for painters, for craftsmen, for the folks who are in those buildings – that’s continued paychecks for hard-working families across the region. So, those projects will continue to move forward, but people are working at a distance. They are doing the things that they need to do to be mindful of their health.”
During his report, Noland said they received a call from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission last week regarding needs for medical supplies across the state. Over the weekend, ETSU’s College of Business partnered with Streamworks in Kingsport, Tennessee, and THEC to produce medical devices and equipment using 3D printers on campus. The materials produced, which include face-shields, will be shipped to Nashville to help meet heath care workers’ safety needs.
“It’s empowering to be a part of a bigger cause,” Noland told the East Tennessean. “And right now, when so many of us are looking for what comes next. What’s the next curveball life is going to throw at me? The chance to set things down and know that you’re doing something to help is empowering.”
Resources for students
Accommodations for students remaining on campus will include food service for those with meal plans, and critical resources such as the University Health Center and clinic operations. The third level of the Culp Center will be open for pickup meals. Resources in Burgin Dossett Hall, such as financial aid, can be reached by phone.
Enhanced crisis and counseling support services, as well as tutoring and mentoring support services will be available for students. Resource links can be found on the university’s COVID-19 response page.
For students with limited internet or Wi-Fi access, Noland said they have tried to provide opportunities through Zoom in those circumstances. Zoom offers a dial-in option for students to listen to lectures and ask their professors questions over a regular phone call. He said the university has also made computers available to students who do not have hardware. Moving forward, they will address growing needs for students with limited internet access on a case-by-case basis, Noland told the East Tennessean.
Looking ahead
In regard to housing and meal-plan balances for students no longer living in residence halls, Noland said the university is committed to offering refunds, credits or the opportunity for students to donate that money to those in need. A Finance Committee meeting will be held on April 1 to examine proposals on how to handle refunds, credits and donations.
Noland said they are exploring the possibility of pass-fail grading and discussing how to treat incompletes, but nothing has been decided yet. Administrators will meet this week to discuss adjustments in grading policies.
For graduation, Noland said degrees will be conferred to graduates in May. However, details regarding a commencement ceremony have not been decided yet.
“I am not in a position at the end of March to say, ‘We’re postponing commencement, and here’s the date,'” he said. “Because if we were to set a date of June 15 and circumstances from a public health perspective haven’t changed, then I’ve only exacerbated stress and tension for students and families. So, I want to give this a little bit of time.”
If circumstances regarding COVID-19 continue into the fall, they will discuss adjusting semester formats, Noland said. This could include the possibility of mini semesters to provide catch-up opportunities and retraining and relearning opportunities for students.
Noland said he is confident ETSU will play a leadership role not only in meeting needs of students, but also meeting needs of the region during this time.
“Mr. Chairman, this is a day, with each passing day, that darkness is falling upon our country,” Noland said. “But I want to promise you that our institution will remain a source of light, a source of hope and a source of inspiration for our region.”
To accommodate CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, Board of Trustees members participated electronically and remotely through a Zoom meeting, which was recorded and streamed live for public viewing.
