ETSU’s Future Operations Workgroup released a report Wednesday containing recommendations and guidelines for a four-phased return to campus starting in June, according to an ETSU press release.
The workgroup, announced by ETSU President Brian Noland in April and headed by Dr. David Linville, was created to formulate plans and protocols for re-opening campus amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The workgroup came up with four operational stages of varying restriction levels, with Stage One being the most restrictive and Stage Four being the least restrictive.
Stage One, which has taken place since March, involved the move to all online classes and the decision for employees to work remotely.
The transition to Stage Two, the recommended operating plan for summer, began earlier this week. There will be a soft opening on June 15 in which some employees will return to campus, while others continue to work remotely. No gatherings of more than 10 individuals are permitted, and all individuals must wear face coverings on campus. They hope to welcome the public back to campus by July 1.
In Stage Two, all summer classes will continue online, except for some experiential learning permitted on a case-by-case basis. The workgroup recommends that on and off-campus university events, as well as festivals, camps and conferences be canceled or postponed.
Stage Three, the recommended operating plan for the fall semester, would include face-to-face instruction when possible and students in residence halls with safety precautions. Courses identified by faculty as requiring a face-to-face setting will be the first priority for use of classrooms and teaching labs. All other academic material would be taught in a hybrid format providing a combination of online and on-campus learning.
Classrooms would comply with physical distancing requirements, keeping 6 feet apart between students, which could limit occupancy. Students may not be able to physically attend every class session, and faculty should plan for rotation schedule for face-to-face sessions.
All individuals must wear face coverings on campus. Laboratory courses, on-campus experiential learning, research and service activities and residence hall occupancy would be permitted with physical distancing and safety measures to limit face-to-face exposure. The Dining Hall, the Sherrod Library, the D.P. Culp Student Center and the Basler Center for Physical Activity would be open with social distancing and enhanced sanitation measures in place.
Some large university events would be possible with safety plans in place. Outgoing university-related domestic travel, outgoing university-related international travel and study abroad would be suspended. Athletic competition would be possible based on NCAA and Southern Conference guidance.
To prepare for a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in late fall and early winter, the workgroup recommends that senior leadership consider modifying the fall calendar to use holidays and fall break as instruction days, complete all instruction before Thanksgiving and hold exams online after Thanksgiving break. No official decisions have been made yet.
“The recommendations do discuss possible changes to the schedule,” ETSU spokesperson Joe Smith said. “At this time, it is too early to anticipate what any changes might be. We will continue to follow this closely. Some changes would require approval by the ETSU Board of Trustees. This is something that the institution will continue to work through carefully as the summer and fall semesters continue.”
Stage Four, or the “new normal,” would involve on campus face-to-face instruction on campus with loosened social distancing guidelines and occupied residence halls. Laboratory and experiential learning courses, domestic and international travel, large university events and athletic competition would be permitted.
No stage is permanent. The workgroup recommends that ETSU transition forward or backward between the four stages depending on public health data and COVID-19 case trends.
ETSU’s senior leadership reviewed these recommendations earlier this week, and the University Council will meet the morning of June 8 to discuss the plan. ETSU President Brian Noland will host a Town Hall at 11 a.m. on June 9 over Zoom to answer questions about the plan and get feedback for implementation strategies.
To read the Future Operations Workgroup’s full report, visit https://etsu.edu/coronavirus/#announcements.
