On Monday, June 15, President David Smith sent an email to all students describing the top 10 ways Southern is working to make the Fall 2020 semester safer. Here is a summary of that email:
- Enhanced Air Filtration
High-tech filtration systems will be installed in all buildings on campus to provide hospital-level air filtration in all frequented areas.
- Electrostatic Cleaning
Southern’s sanitation team will be using electrostatic spraying machines, a special device to disperse hospital-grade cleaning agents throughout a room. This device ensures deep cleaning of high contact and heavily trafficked areas.
- Daily Screening
All employees and students will be required to participate in daily temperature checks and symptom surveys. - Masks
Employees will be wearing face coverings in most indoor spaces where close interactions occur. Students will be provided with two washable face masks and will be required to wear them in certain campus spaces such as classrooms. - Revised Calendar
Mid-term break will be eliminated and in-person instruction will end at Thanksgiving break. Classes will be followed by two weeks of distance coursework through various methods to complete the semester on December 11. This plan reduces travel to and from campus and sends students home during the predicted increase of COVID-19 cases, but it still needs to be approved by the Board of Trustees. - Classroom Capacity
To allow for safer in-person instruction, classroom capacity has been decreased by 50%. - Hand Sanitizer
New hand-sanitizing stations will be made available throughout campus. - Plexiglas
To further reduce possible transmission, Plexiglas barriers are being installed at key interaction points such as reception desks and cash registers. - Adjusted Social Activities
While social activities will continue, we will make some adjustments for increased safety, such as holding larger gatherings in a big, open-air tent and canceling convocations. - Streamlined Food Service
Southern’s Food Service team has restructured food delivery methods to minimize wait times, eliminate self-service buffets, offer online payment, and provide more grab-and-go options.
