UCF anticipates re-opening campus for the fall semester.
That was the main highlight of it’s “Return to Campus” plan released Wednesday by the school, outlying how to bring students and employees back for campus and work the safest way possible.
UCF could still amend the plan since the state’s Board of Regents must still approve it. The state’s public universities were asked to submit their plans by June 23. Classes are anticipated to begin on Aug. 24.
Other main plan points include:
Return to Classes and Work
Face coverings will be required inside university buildings or when in close proximity to others, and building capacity (excluding classrooms, laboratories, and health care environments) will be at 30 percent as staff and students return at the end of the summer, a second phase increase to 50 percent capacity will be targeted at the start of the semester, and all members of the university are to practice 6 feet of physical distancing to the greatest extent possible;
Supervisors will be flexible and allow staff to continue remote work to address at risk needs or where productivity can be maintained from home;
Prior to returning to campus, faculty, staff, and students will be required to complete “Return to Campus” training to ensure understanding of university procedures and protocols;
Plan for a hybrid scenario with a mix of face-to-face, mixed mode and online courses. All faculty are being encouraged to provide flexibility so that students requesting the ability to learn remotely can do so. Students at high risk of complications from COVID-19 or who may be taking care of someone at high risk should continue to learn remotely;
Classroom capacity will be modified to support physical distancing and courses that do not fit available space on campus will be taught remotely, and college deans will categorize fall course offerings based on class characteristics to determine the priority for face-to-face instruction;
All classes will revert back to digital learning after the Thanksgiving break;
On-Campus Housing
Students will return to on-campus housing for the fall semester.
With adjusted move-in time period to promote physical distancing, housing residents will be tested upon their return to campus and strategies will be implemented to promote physical distancing during and after the move-in process; UCF will offer single occupancy and provide some limited double occupancy thus reducing total housing capacity;
Residential space will be reserved for quarantine use in case of positive resident cases. Tracing protocols are being built in that case;
A hybrid strategy for fall events and activities will offer virtual participation options to students;
Facilities
Preparing university facilities by installing hand sanitizer stations and touchless devices, including faucets and step and pulls on doors. Installing plexiglass in public facing areas and in spaces requiring additional barriers;
Enhanced efforts to improve university buildings’ heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and address ventilation, filtration, administrative controls, and sterilization technology. Protocols include the initial deep cleaning of offices, common areas, and classrooms completed in May. All common areas and high touch point areas will be cleaned twice per day with a deep cleaning of bathrooms. All classrooms will be cleaned daily prior to classes beginning and disinfected every two weeks.
Athletics
Student-athlete participation in organized activity as well as the return of spectators to athletic competition are dependent on state and local guidance as well as plans developed by the American Athletics Conference;
Workout schedules (including cardio and weightlifting sessions) will be staggered to promote physical distancing. Coaches will wear masks during indoor training sessions when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
On-Campus Research is grouped into seven tiers based on essential or critical activities.
Testing: All students returning to university-owned housing, Greek housing, all student-athletes whether living on or of campus and all symptomatic students will be tested upon arrival at UCF and will quarantine pending results. (On Tuesday, it was reported three athletes had tested positive).
