LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After an abrupt end to their spring semesters, universities across the commonwealth are releasing their plans for reopening while the upcoming fall semester approaches. Preparing to welcome back roughly 22,000 students, the University of Louisville released a preliminary draft of its own plans which feature a variety of new health and safety requirements.
"We've requested input from faculty, staff and students. We had a forum to discuss the plan to return and had about 140 submitted questions during that forum. We've had questions submitted online," said John Karman, UofL's director of media relations. "So, yeah, there's a lot of input, there's a lot of questions, a lot of steps that we're taking before this is a final product."
UofL's plan presents a hybrid approach for classes, meaning 25-75 percent of classes will be taught face-to-face while the remaining percentage is taught online. To make it easier for students who can’t attend class, instructors are asked to make assignments and lectures available online.
Hybrid classes and additional parts of UofL's draft plan, are similar to what you will find in other universities' reopening plans. UofL has been in touch with leaders at other campuses inside and outside of Kentucky, as well as health and government officials.
Other commonplace guidelines are included in the draft, such as masks which would be required in all public areas of campus. Students and employees will receive one free washable mask from the university; however, they are encouraged to keep backups.
Professors would not be required to wear masks during lectures as long as they keep eight feet between themselves and students.
The draft encourages social distancing, especially in the campuses’ high-density areas, with floor markings and proper spacing between tables. Barriers and/or sneeze guards will also be established.
One new requirement for Cardinals this year is a flu shot to reduce coronavirus-like symptoms on campus. The university will provide free flu shots; however, exemptions will be made for students who object on health or personal/religious grounds. Processes for exemptions are still being discussed.
Coronavirus testing will be available for students, faculty, and staff with a focus on those who believe they have been infected or have symptoms. Students are encouraged to get tested before returning to campus.
In the event of increasing infection rates within the community, UofL plans to implement randomized, broad-based testing.
The university will conduct contact tracing in combination with testing and is considering the use of an app to help contact tracing efforts. Details on the app are not yet available.
The pandemic is impacting UofL’s academic calendar as well. The fall semester will begin Aug. 17 as originally planned, but face-to-face instruction will end at Thanksgiving break. The rest of the semester and finals week will be conducted remotely.
While other universities have nixed their fall break, UofL’s fall break will continue as planned. Rescheduled Derby festivities, however, will cause classes to be delivered online Sept. 3-4 to avoid traffic concerns.
After moving instruction online mid-semester last March, Karman believes the university's ability to provide for students then gave campus leaders confidence now.
"I think the big thing was we still had students on campus or near campus in housing or affiliated housing, and the fact that we were able to make sure that their needs were met, whether it be food or access to study space. The fact that we were able to keep them safe and healthy during the onset of the pandemic I think gave us a lot of confidence moving forward into the fall," said Karman.
Karman predicted the university's plan to return, which will include more information on topics such as student housing, will be finalized by the end of June.