College of Arts and Sciences aims for students to have on-campus components for 3 of 5 classes

Every student in the College of Arts and Sciences will likely have three of five of their courses with some on-campus component in the fall, Dean Terry Rhodes announced Wednesday at the Chairs' Leadership meeting. 

In the meeting, Rhodes outlined the "3 out of 5 courses on campus" goal and other commitments to University staff with the intention of delivering a "successful fall semester and actions that will help us prepare for spring 2021." 

Rhodes also stated in her presentation that instruction in the fall is "not a binary 'on campus' or 'off campus' choice," and that there are many options available.

"We must be cognizant that there could be negative consequences if we are unable to deliver the necessary number of on-campus courses," Rhodes wrote in her presentation. 

Some of the commitments to College of Arts and Sciences staff include requiring all students, unless they have an EOC accommodation, to wear masks in class and ensuring a 6-foot distance is maintained between individuals in classrooms. 

Rhodes said an instructor may be able to dismiss a student from the classroom if they do not comply with University guidelines regarding mask use, "just as instructors do now for disruptive behavior." The College of Arts and Sciences is also considering whether to have disposable masks prepared for instructors to give to students who arrive to class without a mask. 

Classes are also expected to begin at 8 a.m. as previously planned, but the latest class will end at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. There will be 30 minutes allotted between class times to ensure safety entering and exiting from University buildings and for instructors and students to disinfect the appropriate spaces. 

Rhodes' presentation included community standards for cleaning and sanitizing classrooms; faculty are expected to disinfect instructor workstations, while students will be responsible for disinfecting individual desks or chairs. Housekeeping staff will be cleaning and disinfecting "high-touch surfaces," such as bathrooms, door handles and elevator buttons four times daily, in addition to cleaning all surfaces every night. 

Rhodes said specific details are still being determined, but materials needed for sanitization will be given to instructors and students for use in each classroom.  

Earlier this week, faculty and other University employees expressed concerns about returning to campus in the Faculty Executive Committee and Employee Forum meetings. More than 650 faculty, fellows and teaching assistants have signed a petition calling on University administration to guarantee that no instructor be required to teach in person in the fall. 

During Wednesday's meeting, Rhodes acknowledged questions from staff that are still being determined, such as when further information regarding flexibility for faculty, graduate students and staff will be available and what criteria will be used to identify when an "off-ramp," or return to complete remote instruction, is needed. 

"As has always been the case, an employee’s decision about working is made in conjunction with the employee’s supervisor," Rhodes wrote in the presentation. "We are aiming for flexibility and 'presuming yes.'" 

@MaydhaDevarajan

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