Document details University of Alabama system plan to reopen campuses amid pandemic - AL.com

The University of Alabama System trustees last Thursday voted to reopen campuses for the fall semester. Less than a week later, details for how the plan will be implemented are coming into focus.

A 22-page document dated June 9 obtained by AL.com on Wednesday morning that outlines re-entry to the three campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. It touches on the various aspects of campus life from classrooms to dorms and athletics.

It’s a fluid guide that includes some concrete guidelines as well as recommendations for implementation. Amending the calendar is among the possibilities. Ending in-person instruction by Thanksgiving is on the table to avoid the likelihood of students bringing the virus back to campus after returning home. Limiting in-semester holidays and breaks is also on the table.

A few of the important aspects of the plan:

Testing

-- All students returning to campus will be tested for COVID-19 “subject to availability of adequate testing.”

-- If universal testing is not available, students arriving with symptoms or from an area identified as a COVID-19 hot spot should be tested “at a minimum.”

-- After arriving back on campus, sentinel testing would mean randomly selecting 2.5 percent of the students and staff to “find trends, identify outbreaks and monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 on each campus.”

-- That testing would be voluntary for most students. Those who live on campus, participate in a university sponsored extracurricular activities “may be required to participate in sentinel testing.”

-- Should a cluster of positive tests be located in the sentinel testing, a trained team will be sent to the location.

Contact tracing

-- The exact phrase is not listed in the document, but the concept is addressed. Bottom line: participation in the “technology-facilitated exposure notification” is voluntary.

-- For those who participate in the location-tracking technology, users will be alerted if they were in close contact with someone who tested positive in the previous 14 days.

How the contact tracing will work, according to the document that spells out UA's reopening plan.

-- All students, faculty and staff will required to participate in the Healthcheck portion that involves self-reporting symptoms or known exposures to COVID-19.

-- For events, the document recommends requiring attendees to complete the voluntary Healthcheck self-assessment.

Masks, PPE

-- All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks when social distancing cannot be achieved. That is subject to any changes in guidance from medical professionals and the CDC. The face coverings should be worn in classrooms, labs, communal office spaces and at gatherings “where social distancing is difficult to maintain.”

-- Masks are not required in dorm rooms, in enclosed office or study rooms, personal vehicles or in public outdoor settings where physical distancing can be achieved.

-- The university is required to purchase and distribute the PPE. Faculty and staff will be provided two non-disposable face coverings.

-- For students, face coverings will be sold “if available” with no mark-up on the per-mask cost. Disposable face coverings should be available for visitors “IF available,” the document reads.

Housing

-- Additional time will be provided for moving into on-campus dorms to minimize congestion. The phased-in moving process is designed to minimize the number of people involved.

-- For in-state students, the campuses “may temporarily suspend the requirement” for freshmen to live on campus. If implemented, it would apply only to the 2020-21 school year.

Athletics

-- There should be a phased return for athletic staff and athletes. They are to adhere to conference and NCAA regulations.

-- Early in the plan, athletes and staff should be screened daily.

-- Athletic departments should “develop and enforce compliance plans related to the use of the Stay Safe Together symptom assessment tool” by staff and athletes.

-- Athletes will be tested upon their return to campus and before participating in any games. On top of that, a randomized sample of athletes will be tested and “may be mandated” for continued participation.

-- For events and games, campuses should have multiple plans and models for admitting spectators “at various density levels.”

-- Important language for fans: “To the extent warranted and practicable, campuses may consider incorporating event-specific prevention measures, including but not limited to a symptom assessment in connection with event ticketing, distributed seating, and mandatory face coverings for spectator attendance.”

Greek life

-- Recruitment will likely take a different form this fall. “Modified plans for recruitment should consider innovative ways to conduct events previously held in person,” the document reads. That includes the use of video conferencing technology.

-- Chapters must work with student housing to make a plan and develop guidelines for living in chapter houses and serving meals.

-- Student Affairs “may consider mandating sentinel testing” for students living in Greek houses just like those who live on campus in dorms.

Plans for isolation/quarantine

-- Campuses “must designate” space for isolation/quarantine for on-campus student residents who test positive. That includes providing academic support, food, other necessary items.

-- The dorms should designate a separate hall or floor for isolation of COVID-19 positive tests.

-- Those with asymptomatic positive tests can remain in their dorm if it does not have common areas including bathrooms. If no space can be found on campus, hotels or apartments should be considered to “house positive cases.”

-- Among the recommendations: limiting visitors and deliveries and promoting the use of stairs instead of elevators.

Classroom instruction

-- Social distancing is required in all university facilities “whenever possible.”

-- Assigned seating and strategically spaced seating plans are encouraged to meet the requirements.

-- Lists should be kept for those who attend in-campus events.

Recreation centers

-- Capacity should be reduced at gyms and other recreation centers.

-- Wearing masks “may not be possible or practical during certain activities,” so they are not required (but encouraged).

-- All equipment should undergo enhanced cleaning and hard-to-clean equipment should be removed.

Cleaning, sanitation

-- All campuses need to develop a plan for cleaning and disinfecting to reduce exposures to COVID-19.

-- Campuses “should remove items in common areas, such as break rooms and lobbies, that can be touched by multiple people,” the document reads.

-- Students, faculty and staff are responsible for cleaning/sanitizing their personal workspace including classrooms, offices, dining facilities, libraries and housing. Sanitizing wipes or disinfectant “should be made available” to facilitate this.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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Document details University of Alabama system plan to reopen campuses amid pandemic - AL.com
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