Will Marist Follow Vassar’s Lead? Marist’s Neighbor Has a Detailed Plan for Reopening
Marist’s path forward could mirror those taken by neighboring collegiate institutions as schools prepare to open for the fall semester.
While further details will be announced in the coming weeks, President Dennis J. Murray announced to students the college’s plans to reopen the Marist College campus in the fall on June 18. With new safety precautions, classes will begin Aug. 24, one week earlier than planned. Students will leave Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving Break and finish the remainder of the semester online. The Office of Housing and Residential Life announced on June 17 that the housing process, which had been initially delayed, will now occur the week of July 6 for returning students.
Vassar College President Elizabeth H. Bradley updated the Vassar College community on June 16 about health precautions and general protocols for the upcoming fall semester with a detailed message. Bradley serves on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board. Bradley.
The new facemask protocol at Vassar requires all students and faculty to wear a mask or mouth and nose covering. Face coverings are required when walking between destinations, including outside. In private or unshared rooms or offices, masks are not required. A face covering is not required if an individual is stationary outside and can remain six feet from anyone else. Vassar will also provide masks as needed for employees to safely do their job duties on campus.
Employees working on campus will also complete a daily self-care assessment prior to returning to work, which is mandated by New York State. Individuals will report any COVID-19 symptoms and if they have been in close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases.
Bradley also explained that common spaces as well as bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected daily by staff and logged to indicate when they were last cleaned. Additional safety protocols will also be in place such as physical dinstancing markers. Bradley suggested that small spaces such as elevators should be occupied by one person at a time.
“All campus spaces should maintain occupancy below 50 percent of maximum capacity. Buildings will be accessible with card access only,” Bradley said. Vassar’s library and athletic facilities will remain closed.
To reopen, Marist, as well as Vassar, must comply with New York State guidelines. On June 10, regions of New York State, including the Mid-Hudson, began Phase 2 of a 4-phase reopening plan. It is not until Phase 4 that education can resume in-person, allowing students back to school campuses.
The Finger Lakes, Central New York, Southern Tier, North Country and Mohawk began Phase 3 on June 15. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, Western New York, which includes Buffalo, as well as the Capital Region will begin Phase 3 the week of June 22.
According to the New York State guidelines, “Each region will reopen businesses in phases, with at least two weeks in between each phase. This allows state and local leaders to monitor the effects of the reopening and ensure hospitalization and infection rates are not increasing before moving to the next phase and permitting more economic activity.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that out of 970 colleges, 65 percent plan to re-open in the fall.
Marist students awaited information from the college about classes resuming in-person and if residential life would continue. On May 21, President Dennis J. Murray assured families of the college’s commitment to reopening in the fall and included that there will be required protocols that will likely consist of testing, social distancing, contact tracing and face coverings.
Source: Tara Guaimano