La Roche prepares to open for fall semester
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La Roche University announced the health and safety plan for reopening its McCandless campus this fall, with officials guaranteeing a reduced number of students in classrooms and daily temperature checks for all.
Despite covid-19 and its challenges, the university is prepared for the 2020-21 academic year, La Roche President Sister Candace Introcaso said.
“In every decision we make, we prioritize the health and welfare of our campus community and neighbors,” Introcaso said Tuesday in a prepared statement.
“The precautions announced today aim to maximize safety, mitigate risks and prepare us for a broad range of scenarios as faculty and students return to campus.”
Employees will begin returning to campus in early August, with departments staffed 50% or less on any given day. The fall semester starts Aug. 17, with the campus footprint also reduced to 50% in all class spaces and academic buildings to enable appropriate social distancing.
Health and safety protocols were formed based on recommendations from the CDC, the state Department of Health and Allegheny County.
Other highlights of the return-to-school plan include masks for everyone, indoors and out; daily temperature checks; and quarantine spaces for resident students who need to self-isolate.
High-touch surfaces will be routinely cleaned.
La Roche has added more online courses and a new hi-flex classroom model in which students are only required to be in the classroom every other session.
Other colleges have already announced plans to have in-person classes this fall, including Westminster College in New Wilmington, Lawrence County, and Allegheny College in Meadville, Crawford County.
Westminster officials in a news release said they are looking at what changes and safety protocols need to be made to academic instruction, residence life, dining services, athletics, campus activities and arts and culture events to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Allegheny College officials said they are evaluating how to maintain physical distance and proper safety measures through the academic calendar, the student experience, athletics and recreational sports, among others.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania planning for in-person learning include Duquesne University, Grove City College, Seton Hill University, Saint Vincent College, Thomas Jefferson University, Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Geneva College, Gettysburg College, Haverford College, Immaculata University, Juniata College, La Roche University, Lycoming College, Mercyhurst University, Susquehanna University, University of Scranton, Villanova University, Waynesburg University and Wilkes University.
The University of Pittsburgh will reopen this fall under an adjusted calendar and classroom capacity restrictions. Students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving break, making their last day on campus Nov. 20.
Likewise, Penn State plans to reopen in-person on Aug. 24 as originally planned. However, when classes resume Nov. 30 following the Thanksgiving break, they will be virtual in an effort to stem any potential virus spread.