University systems across the country are preparing for life on college campuses after moving to remote instruction in March while the coronavirus ravaged the nation.
Florida A&M and the Board of Trustees recently announced to students the university’s plans for reopening this fall.
The emailed announcement included the university’s 26-page proposal for Florida’s Board of Governors, which will be vetted by BOG at its June 23 meeting at University of Central Florida.
Many classes will be taught online instead of in-person as the university stresses safety as its top priority. The email provided a detailed account of when individuals are allowed to return to campus, new safety tools, amended health screening requirements and more.
The proposal touched on a number of high-interest issues, including campus housing for the upcoming school year. FAMU’s residence halls will operate at a 69 percent capacity by converting all double-occupant rooms to a single occupant room. Social distancing tape will be placed along hallways and common areas as a part of the guidelines laid by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We also have maintenance sterilizing common areas for our students and staff. Per university implementation, our staff and students are required to wear a mask when engaging with each other,” said Aaliyah Wilkerson, marketing and communications coordinatorfor the FAMU Office of Housing.
On-campus housing will be available for students of all classifications. Upon being accepted into housing, students will be sent a separate detailed letter informing them on their new living rules.
The letter also states that after the Thanksgiving break students will not return to campus and will continue classes remotely until spring 2021.After reading the new re-opening plan, incoming freshman Jada Bromfield said:
“Outside of the whole plan every day we are getting different updates on coronavirus, so I really don’t see the point of us returning to campus for like a short time and then to say that after Thanksgiving we probably won’t be returning seems to me like a waste of time to bring everything there just to have to bring it back in a few months.”
Some students said they were appreciative that administrators are doing everything they can to get campus back open. They said they are ready to see positive things ahead for the new way of functioning. Other students, like transfer student Deja Boyd, said that campus won’t be the same.
“I feel like campus life will not be the same. The environment of the school would be pretty dull. At least, we have a little more parking spaces available,” she said.
Getting ready for what is next in the new campus life with Covid-19 around, students are ready to get back in the flow of things and experience life on “The Hill.”