“I am very proud to report that our comprehensive plan
gained full approval and that means we are moving full-speed ahead to welcome
students to campus this fall,” said Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan.
“With more than 90 committee members, our task force has evaluated details
regarding every aspect of our operation to ensure a safe residential campus
environment.”
The gradual repopulation of ASC’s campus is already underway
as employees will complete their return from telecommuting by July 6. All
aspects of instruction have been evaluated to maximize the benefit of in-person
instruction and hands-on experiences while also staying prepared to convert to
distance learning if conditions warrant.
Timeline
- On Aug. 3,
selected students arrive for hands-on applied lab requirements needed for
completion of some spring classes. These students will be contacted individually
with details.
- On Aug. 10, some
student athletes arrive. An elongated process for arrival of first-year
students then follows.
- New students
arriving on campus and their guests will undergo a health screening and a
contactless check-in process.
- Each student
receives a care package upon arrival that includes a thermometer, mask, info
packet, and refillable sanitizer container.
- Aug. 24 is the
first day of classes. Fall mini-break is eliminated to allow for all in-person
classes to conclude on Nov. 25.
- After
Thanksgiving, remote instruction will be utilized with classes ending Dec. 11.
Campus Life
- Alfred State will
offer a rich and dynamic residential campus experience while observing all
health and safety measures.
- “Family Units”
will be identified in residential housing to promote the social and emotional
needs of a tight-knit living group watching out for one another’s health and
well-being.
- Every morning
each student, faculty, and staff member must affirm their own health or stay
home.
- Face covers will
be worn when in public to follow state rules, facilitate personal safety, and
to protect the health of others when it is not possible to maintain a social
distance of at least 6 feet.
- Space is reserved
for precautionary quarantine or isolation as needed for containment and contact
tracing.
Communication and Commitment
- We recognize that
everyone is making major adjustments and adapting to the current environment.
This leads to stress and so it’s worth repeating that we are all in this
together.
- Providing a safe
campus environment and mitigating any health consequences are priorities. It
will take a commitment by all of us to stay vigilant in our safety efforts.
- ASC will strive
to provide the most accurate and relevant information in an open and
transparent flow of communication as we all work in coordination.
While in-person instruction and residential campus plans are
officially approved, adjustments may be made due to changing conditions and
future guidance from the state. Alfred State works to follow guidelines and
coordinate information from CDC, the White House, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, SUNY, NYS
and county departments of health, and local leadership in the village of
Alfred.
“I’m eager to welcome students back to campus this fall,”
said Sullivan “I believe we have a plan for providing a safe and spectacular
college experience on our campus. We will all be working together and proving
that we are Pioneer Strong.”