President Julie Sullivan sent the completed COVID-19 Preparedness Plan to the St. Thomas community Tuesday, which includes a regular fall schedule and a requirement for students and faculty to wear face coverings in indoor common areas.

The blueprint, which includes potential fall 2020 course models, is the finalized version of the COVID-19 preparedness plan unveiled on June 8.

Sullivan noted in her email that under the calendar, St. Thomas classes will be available in person, mixed-mode online and in person, and fully online. Though fall 2020’s class plan has not been finalized, the plan notes that several elements are being considered as the fall plan is developed.
“The in-person learning component is highly valued by students in many of our programs, who seek it out as part of the ‘St. Thomas experience,’ ” the plan states. “Being on campus and in the classroom provide crucial social and intellectual support for many of our students, especially those who have experienced marginalization.”
Several possible options are listed for the mixed-mode participation option:

• Blended, where the individual class’ schedule determines when students attend class in person and online.
• CoFlex Design (in person and online synchronous), which allows students to choose between attending in-person class sessions based on room capacity or participating in live web conferencing.
• CoFlex Design (in person and online asynchronous), which allows students to attend in-person class sessions to room capacity or watch recorded courses.

Ultimately, the plan says, faculty will choose between any of the available models to choose their preferred course model.

According to the plan, all 300 campus classrooms are being updated with necessary technology, including microphones, set up to offer synchronous learning to students who attend classes virtually.

The St. Thomas School of Law will be the only St. Thomas school with a revised academic calendar.

All study abroad experiences have been canceled for fall 2020, including the Rome and London programs. All university-sponsored travel also has been suspended for the time being. Beyond fall 2020, the status of January Term and spring courses, including study abroad, are yet to be determined.

Dining halls will have revised occupancy capacities, fewer tables and chairs and other social distancing procedures.

Students, faculty and staff are expected to wear face coverings and to practice regular hand washing and social distancing in the fall. Students who repeatedly do not comply with expectations established in the plan may be disciplined under the Student Conduct Code. Faculty and staff who fail to follow expectations may also face discipline.

Though St. Thomas does not plan to move fully online in the fall, the preparedness plan considers that possibility.

“In the event that a surge in cases locally or nationally causes St. Thomas to put some or all classes online, tuition and fees will not be refunded,” the plan states. “If residence halls are closed, charges for residence hall rooms and meal plans generally will be prorated.”

The plan indicates that St. Thomas community members diagnosed with COVID-19 are expected to stay home until they are 72 hours fever-free, 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and other symptoms have improved. The plan also states that those who have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days; those unable to quarantine off campus will be moved to a temporary housing unit.

The Anderson Athletic and Recreational Complex opened on Monday, June 22, with limited access. According to the plan, workouts are now limited in the cardio and weight rooms to a maximum of 55 minutes.

Currently, The Center for Well-Being is prioritizing tests for symptomatic patients. In her email, Sullivan wrote that testing will increase.

“We are creating additional testing capacity on campus, as well as setting up a team for contact tracing,” Sullivan wrote. “All of these efforts, if embraced and followed, will help us respond to and contain the virus.”

Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.