Boise State students begin moving in with hopes of avoiding a coronavirus shutdown
Many of the almost 3,000 students who will live on Boise State University’s campus this fall began settling into their dorms on Tuesday, but with COVID-19 as the backdrop, move-in day had a different feel.
“It’s maybe not the same energy as before, but so far it’s been really smooth,” said Jared Cox, the associate director of programs and communication for Boise State’s campus recreation department. “I feel like students are still really excited to be here, and it’s way less chaotic this year.”
Normally, move-in day attracts hoards of elated students and anxious parents, but in an effort to limit large crowds and potential exposure to the coronavirus, Boise State split the arrival into three days and required students to sign up for specific time slots.
Because of occupancy limitations in place to increase social distancing, Boise State spokesperson Greg Hahn said there will be fewer students living on campus this year. About 600 to 700 were expected on Tuesday, with similar numbers arriving Wednesday and Thursday.
The university has taken other precautions to keep the dorms safe, such as requiring students to wear facial coverings at all times except in their suite and not allowing outside visitors into the buildings.
Boise State originally required that all students be tested for the virus before moving onto campus, but as demand for tests skyrocketed in late July, the school reversed course and asked students to get tested before leaving home.
Residential advisor Paige Harwood, who was stationed outside of Topaz Hall on Tuesday to welcome students, said she feels safe in the dorms but plenty of uncertainty remains.
Classes moved online and most students were asked to leave campus in March as the pandemic began.
“We’re all waiting to see what’s going to happen on campus and how well it’s going to work because it’s going to be different from other years,” said Harwood, of Meridian. “I definitely have apprehension because it’s a lot of people living in one place, but I know the university is doing its best.”
Haley Birge and her mom, Kim Watts, made the trip from Las Vegas. Birge said she’s excited about starting her second year and living with her best friend, but she understands the reality that COVID-19 could eventually force the university to send everyone back home.
“I feel super safe, but I’m nervous because there are a lot of unknowns,” Birge said. “I’m hopeful it’s going to be a fun year, but I’m taking it day by day.”
Watts said she has emphasized to her daughter how important it is to wash her hands and wear a mask, but if Birge was to contract the virus, she wouldn’t leave her care up to the university.
“If anything like that happened, we would come get her,” Watts said. “With everything going on, we’d feel better doing that.”
Other schools have hit snags
Schools around the country have opened in recent weeks and almost immediately experienced a surge in cases. On Monday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pivoted to online classes after at least four clusters of positive cases were discovered barely a week after in-person classes began.
Michigan State University on Tuesday asked undergraduate students who planned to live on campus to stay home instead.
The reality of life in a dorm setting is social distancing is not always possible and social gatherings are part of the college experience. But many students at Boise State are focused on spreading the message that being socially responsible is about protecting more than just themselves.
“We’re trying to put that seed in their mind that you’re not being safe for yourself, you’re doing it for the people on your floor, the people in your building and everybody,” Harwood said. “We can’t control what students do off campus, but we can emphasize the fact that we’re trying to protect our community here at Boise State and we’re trying to protect each other.”
On Monday, Boise State President Dr. Marlene Tromp described many of the university’s efforts to keep students safe in their dorms and prepare them for the environments they’re walking into.
Before moving in, every student planning to live in residence halls received a phone call, which reminded them of the university’s many COVID-19 protocols. They were also asked to sign documentation acknowledging they would follow them.
The university installed more than 1,000 shields around campus to prevent the spread of the virus through saliva droplets, and Tromp said more than $1.9 million has been spent on new technology aimed at giving students more online options.
She said Boise State is at about a 50-50 split between in-person and online courses, and the school has converted several large ball rooms into lecture halls to increase social distancing.
“Our reintegration plan earned national attention precisely because it displayed the kind of creativity and innovation for which Boise State is known — the same innovation that will ensure we continue to positively impact our community and our nation long after COVID-19,” Tromp said in a statement released by the university on Tuesday.
Tromp also highlighted the university’s plans if a student living on campus were to contract the virus. Specifically, 100 beds have been reserved in dorm rooms designated for isolation.
The school has also hired a public health officer, case managers and nurses to care for students in isolation. But first-year student Mason Standal is concerned 100 beds isn’t enough.
“That seems like a low number, and we’ve seen how quickly cases can spike,” the Boisean said Tuesday. “It should be fine if everyone follows the rules, but I’m a little worried.”
Standal’s father, Eric, said he and his wife, Jeannie, felt better about moving their son into the dorms after attending one of the town hall meetings Boise State held to discuss new housing policies.
“I don’t think (the university) can be perfect, but it seems like they’re doing the best they can,” Eric Standal said. “They’re just going to have to adjust on the fly because who knows what’s going to happen when everyone is here.”
Classes are scheduled to start at Boise State on Monday.
Around the state
College and university presidents from across the state updated the Idaho State Board of Education on Monday about how their schools were approaching the fall semester.
They described similar safety protocols, such as mandatory face masks, social distancing requirements, temperature checks and reduced occupancy in dorms, before laying out their plans for how classes will be delivered.
At the University of Idaho, about 25% of classes are using an in-person model, while 30% are online only and 45% are a hybrid of the two. Classes will be held fully online after the Thanksgiving break, and all students will be tested for the virus when they arrive on campus.
Idaho is partnering with Gritman Medical Center in Moscow to conduct the testing, and on Monday, President Scott Green said the university had tested 3,360 students and faculty members since June and 48 have tested positive. Of the positive cases, nine were previously known to be positive and five are currently on campus in isolation.
Classes began at Idaho State on Monday. About 53% are being held in-person, while 23% are online and 24% are being delivered in a hybrid format. ISU plans to complete the fall semester by Thanksgiving break.
Idaho State opened a drive-up testing site on campus in April, according to President Kevin Satterlee. He said the site is averaging about 20-50 tests a day, with results usually available in about three days.
At Lewis-Clark State College, 70% of classes are being held in-person or in a hybrid format, with about 30% online. But President Cynthia Pemberton said all of the school’s courses will have an online component, and all classes will be online-only after Thanksgiving.
Presidents of the state’s smaller colleges laid out similar plans for class format:
College of Southern Idaho: 47% of classes will be in-person, 43% will be online and 10% will be hybrid.
College of Eastern Idaho: About one-third of classes will be in-person; two-thirds will occur online.
College of Western Idaho: 32% of classes will be in-person, 35% will be online and the rest will occur in various hybrid formats.
North Idaho College: 60% of classes will be in-person or hybrid, while 40% will be held online.
Boise State sees enrollment increase
As parents question if they should send their children back to school, enrollment is a concern for colleges and universities around the country.
At Boise State, though, enrollment for the fall semester is up about 1%, Tromp told the State Board of Education on Monday. She attributed the rise to Boise State’s willingness to offer more in-person class options than many schools.
At Idaho, enrollment is down about 4% from last fall. Idaho State’s enrollment has dropped by the same amount, and Lewis-Clark’s is down about 6-7%.
