Everyone knows what happens to the best-laid plans of mice and men – especially during a coronavirus pandemic.
However, that didn’t stop Guilford College from putting out its education plan for the fall.
On Thursday, July 30, Guilford College President Jane Fernandes, on her next to last day in office, announced the StayHealthy@Guilford initiative – a safety plan for reopening the college’s campus in the coming school year.
According to the plan, fall classes are set to begin on Wednesday, August 19 and the school will use a combination of “remote learning, hybrid courses, and face-to-face instruction.”
The lengthy plan introduces virus control methods for every aspect of student life, from preventing the sharing of items and intensive hygiene regimes to limiting the number of people on elevators. The plan also gives detailed instructions on the types of masks that should be worn on campus and the proper way for students to wash their hands.
According to the reopening directive, students will be on campus until Thanksgiving break. After the break, they’ll remain at home and complete the semester online.
Fernandes noted that a lot of effort had gone into the college’s reopening plan.
“StayHealthy@Guilford reflects several months of thorough consultation and collaboration with leading regional and national experts in the fight against COVID-19,” she stated in the July 30 press release. “It’s intended to apply to all members of the campus community — faculty, staff, students, and affiliates, as well as contractors, vendors, visitors, and guests — while on campus or in College facilities.”
Extensive new protocols and practices will be in place for the whole of the 2020-2021 school year. The plan is designed to be “highly flexible and adaptable to evolving circumstances,”
“As Guilford moves forward cautiously and with the utmost care for the health and safety of the entire campus community, the College recognizes that this global pandemic remains highly unpredictable,” Fernandes stated.
The school will update the plan during the school year as needed.
