The Guide to Fall Reopening summarizes the changes you can expect to see as we resume on-campus classes and in-person activities this fall.
To our campus community,
After months of online classes and remote operations, planning for a safe return to campus is an extraordinarily complex task.
Our Fall Reopening Task Force and a variety of working groups have spent many weeks discussing all aspects of University operations from the standpoint of health and safety.
We are acutely aware that COVID-19 remains a threat, especially to vulnerable populations. At the same time, we believe that Cal U – with your active participation – can safely resume face-to-face classes and campus life.
The Guide to Fall Reopening summarizes the changes you can expect to see as we resume on-campus classes and in-person activities this fall.
This guide is a “living document” that may be adjusted as the University responds to the evolving public health crisis. As you read it, please consider your own role in making our fall semester a safe and constructive experience for all.
At this critical moment, the actions of one individual can ripple outward to affect the entire community. Our reopening plan assumes that you, and every member of our Cal U community, are committed to its success.
Review the shared commitment required for a responsible reopening this fall.
What to expect
The coronavirus has changed our world – and our University, too. Among the changes you can expect:
- A revised academic calendar. To avoid having students depart and then return to campus after Thanksgiving break, the semester will begin on August 17, one week earlier than originally planned. Fall classes will end on November 19, with final exams on November 20, and November 23-25.
- New options for learning. As often as possible, on-campus classes will be taught in person, utilizing technology that also allows students to participate in real time from a remote location. For some courses, scheduling may be used to reduce classroom occupancy, with some students attending in person on certain days and participating remotely on others. A few large classes may move to online delivery if there is no venue available for holding them safely in person.
- A return to residence life. Our on-campus residence halls and dining facilities will be open. Roommates will operate as a “family unit,” acting in ways that protect each other’s health. Visitors will not be permitted in residence halls.
- Masks and social distancing. Students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks and keep 6 feet apart in classrooms, common areas and public spaces, performance spaces, sports venues and other areas. Signs and visual cues (such as floor decals) will remind you about these important safety measures.
- Enhanced cleaning. Hand sanitizer dispensers are being installed in all campus buildings, and Cal U staff will be cleaning and disinfecting on an enhanced schedule. Cleaning supplies will be available in high-touch areas such as computer labs and break rooms, so users can wipe down surfaces.
- Ongoing communication. The Fall Reopening Guide and other important information will be available online at calu.edu/coronaplan. A banner at the top of the Cal U homepage makes it easy to find the link, so please check in regularly for the latest news. Check your campus email account daily, as well. We’ll do our best to keep you informed.
This is just a glimpse at what our students, faculty and staff can anticipate this fall. I urge you to read the Fall Reopening Guide as you prepare to join your classmates and colleagues on campus in August.
See you soon!
Geraldine Jones
President, California University of Pennsylvania