LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The fall semester at the University of Louisville will start in 88 days, that's what UofL President Neeli Bendapudi said in a letter to the community Friday. 

What You Need To Know


  • President Neeli Bendapudi announced phased reopening plan

  • Plan will begin June 1

  • Total of 4 phases for reopening in the fall

Bendapudi says school leadership has been working since March 9 on plans for how students, faculty, and staff will return not only for the fall but for summer sessions as well. 

Provost Beth Boehm is in charge of UofL's efforts for a campus return.  

Beginning June 1, the school will be a phased transition to welcoming everyone back to campus. The plan includes:

  • Extended remote-work policy through June 30 for those who can continue to work from home. 
  • Beginning June 1, certain units whose vice president, dean, or vice provost determines they have critical on-campus needs may begin to bring some employees back to campus. The decision will be approved by the administration, and those units will follow Governor Andy Beshear's (D) “Healthy at Work” plan for reopening businesses. 
  • Beginning June 1, small meetings and events of 10 or fewer people may be held.
  • Pay reductions and furloughs scheduled between now and June 30 will continue as planned.
  • Some research labs and clinical research programs will begin to open following strict health and safety guidelines.
  • The situation will be evaluated and the next steps will be provided to the campus and community before July 1. 

Fall 2020

UofL anticipates COVID-19 still having an impact for the foreseeable future and they are preparing for the fall as if we are in the "new normal."

Provost Boehm says three committees have been formed — each including faculty, staff, and student representatives — to lead the plans: a coordinating committee to develop plans for campus operations, student services, and other key functions; a safe return to campus committee to plan testing necessary to safely return to work and classes; an academic scenario planning committee to address delivery of academic programming. The school will share plans provided by each committee. 

Bendapudi also spelled out what each phase of reopening in the fall will entail. 

Phase 1: March 16-May 30; remote work when possible/recommended

  • Face coverings or masks required except in individual offices
  • Physical distancing required
  • Meeting restrictions, remote only
  • Enhanced hand washing/use of hand sanitizer, recommended
  • Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces, required
  • Use of hand sanitizer to enter food service areas, required
  • SARS-CoV2 screening tests, not available
  • Contact investigations and tracing, required
  • Mandatory face-to-face instruction, not applicable 

Phase 2: June 1-30; low-density on-site work; predominantly remote

  • Face coverings or masks required except in individual offices
  • Physical distancing required
  • Meeting restrictions, remote only unless 10 people or fewer with distancing and masking
  • Enhanced hand washing/use of hand sanitizer, recommended
  • Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces, required
  • Use of hand sanitizer to enter food service areas, required
  • SARS-CoV2 screening tests, limited testing begins
  • Contact investigations and tracing, required
  • Mandatory face-to-face instruction, not applicable 

Phase 3: TBD time frame; return to full ‘new normal’ operations; medium-density on-site work, some remote

  • Face coverings or masks, required in all public areas
  • Physical distancing, required unless masked and distancing is not possible
  • Meeting restrictions, larger meetings allowed when appropriate distancing and/or masking. Maximum size TBD
  • Enhanced hand washing/use of hand sanitizer, recommended
  • Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces, required
  • Use of hand sanitizer to enter food service areas, required
  • SARS-CoV2 screening tests, expanded screening assuming sufficient testing supplies
  • Contact investigations and tracing, required with possible expanded tracing capabilities 
  • Mandatory face-to-face instruction, not permitted 

Phase 4: TBD time frame; back to normal

  • Face coverings or masks, not required
  • Physical distancing, not required
  • Meeting restrictions, no restrictions
  • Enhanced hand washing/use of hand sanitizer, recommended
  • Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces, recommended
  • Use of hand sanitizer to enter food service areas encourage and available
  • SARS-CoV2 screening tests, only when clinically indicated
  • Contact investigations and tracing, required but expanded contact investigations and tracing no longer necessary 
  • Mandatory face-to-face instruction, TBD

 

Related Stories Title