Idaho’s colleges and universities announce plans for on-campus learning in the fall
Idaho’s colleges and universities have begun unfolding plans for what their campuses will look like this coming fall.
After all the campuses went online-only halfway through the spring semester due to the coronavirus, many have begun exploring options for reopening and welcoming students back for the start of a new school year.
Boise State University
In an email to staff, Boise State announced on Thursday that it will gradually increase the number of employees working on campus in the coming months.
“The university’s goal is to resume as many face-to-face courses this fall as we are able to with appropriate social distancing and enhanced cleaning protocols,” the email said. “We plan to welcome residential students back with well-defined plans for preventing and mitigating surges of COVID-19 cases.”
The reintegration process is being overseen by a campus committee with guidance from public health experts, state and local government officials, and other subject matter experts. By May 25, the committee will provide more specific information on the reintegration plan.
The committee will explore various items, including the return of campus employees, reopening student housing, offering lower-density face-to-face classes, information regarding NCAA athletic programs, hosting events and plans in the event of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases during fall term.
“The uncertainty of the coming months also require faculty and staff to be prepared for the possibility of disruption to the fall semester,” the email said. “With that in mind, the university is making additional investments in faculty development and infrastructure improvements to enhance courses delivered remotely.”
In March, the university announced that all summer courses would be delivered remotely, and all campus activities and events have been suspended until at least July 5.
Idaho State University
Starting May 1, Idaho State University launched its four-stage “Roaring Back: University Rebound Plan” for reopening its campus. The four stages mirror the plan by Gov. Brad Little to reopen Idaho and are subject to change depending on COVID-19 trends.
Each phase will allow for the opening of new campus locations and for employees to begin working from their offices.
The university is encouraging that through all phases people still practice social distancing and wear face masks when in public. Supervisors are asked to provide accommodations for vulnerable populations and to consider continued telework and work-from-home options or implementing rotational crews to limit in-office personnel.
University of Idaho
In an interview with The Argonaut, Dean of Students Blaine Eckles said the university is planning to open in the fall as it normally would, but changes in public health recommendations could shift the plans.
The university currently has no specific time frame for reintegrating staff and students and has not sent out any official communication about the fall semester.
College of Idaho
For now, the College of Idaho plans to resume in-person classes and residency for the fall semester after being the first higher education institution to announce its transition to online learning this spring.
In order to help plan the logistics for reopening its campus, the college is appointing multiple task forces to work directly on the changes required to be ready to open campus. The task forces will focus on the following areas: student life, academics, athletics/activities and facilities.
For each of these areas, the task forces are developing contingency plans and timelines for all areas of student life, including class sizes, housing, dining, events, sanitation and hygiene.
“Our plan is to share more specific details with our extended Yote family by the end of May,” Co-Presidents Jim Everett and Doug Brigham stated in their letter to the community. “But we feel it is critical that we communicate now our continuing commitment to in-person classes, on-campus living and a timely start to the fall semester.”
Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University also announced Friday that it is actively making plans for students to return to campus for the fall semester.
In an online letter to faculty and students, NNU President Joel Pearsall states that residence halls and campus spaces will be thoroughly cleaned and ready for occupancy, but some aspects of campus life will be different. The university is continuing to monitor and follow CDC guidelines, Pearsall said.
It is anticipated that more details of the plan will be available by mid-May, according to a press release from NNU.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all face-to-face courses at NNU transitioned to remote learning on March 30 after an extended spring break. Additionally, all campus employees who are able to work remotely have been doing so since March 23.
