CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – Citing as its guiding principles to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the University community and to enable students to continue to progress towards their goals, the University of Charleston has completed its Return to Campus Plan for the upcoming fall semester.
UC employees, many of whom have been working remotely since March, will begin transitioning back to campus, with all employees expected to be on campus by early August. Students will begin returning to both the Beckley and Charleston campuses in groups throughout August, with fall classes beginning August 24.
In-seat instruction will continue through the week of November 21. Following the week of Thanksgiving, Charleston courses will continue online through December 4. Beckley students will continue with in-seat classes, supplemented with online instruction as needed. Winter break will begin December 12, with the spring 2021 semester beginning January 11.
The Plan is the result of a process involving 38 UC staff, faculty and administration, divided into five task forces. The groups developed scenarios based on input from the City of Charleston, Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the West Virginia National Guard. The plan closely follows the HEPC framework for college reopening. UC will continue to work with local and state officials throughout the semester, and to monitor events to make modifications to the plan as appropriate.
Highlights of the plan include the following:
- Before returning to campus, employees, faculty and students will complete an information form and participate in healthy and safety practice training. Those who are arriving on campus from other countries may be required to quarantine for a period of 14 days. Students who are quarantined will be able to access their classes online and will have meals delivered to them.
- Face masks will be required in classrooms and all public spaces on campus
- Campus spaces, including classrooms, offices, and common areas will be configured to ensure six (6) feet of distance between occupants
- Visitation to campus will not be permitted without prior approval
- Employees and students are required to perform a daily health assessment. Designated checkpoints will be used to take the temperatures of those on campus when entering buildings
- All common areas will be cleaned daily, and hand hygiene supplies will be available in all campus buildings and common areas.
Virtual Town Halls will be conducted for students, faculty and staff over the next few weeks to go over the Plan and work through concerns and questions.
A copy of the plan is available on the University of Charleston website: https://www.ucwv.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UC-Fall-2020-Return-to-Campus-Plan-June-19-2020.pdf.
For more information, please contact Dave Traube, UC Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 304-352-0014 or davidtraube@ucwv.edu.
