Florida Poly is committed to holding classes on campus in spring 2021, an action many of our students and their parents have requested.
As we look forward to spring 2021 semester, new protocols have been established. These changes are designed to further promote a healthy campus environment and engage all students in the Florida Poly campus experience.
Spring 2021 protocols include:
Many of the detailed questions that you may have are answered in ”Blueprint for Returning to Campus (Spring Semester 2021)” and additional email communications will be provided between now and the first week in January. Students should check with University email regularly.
Each protocol balances necessary precautions to keep the campus healthy, while continuing the university’s commitment to excellence in education.
Review the full announcement from Provost Dr. Terry Parker that was shared with students via email on Dec. 15.
Academics will continue delivering a high-quality education in a small campus setting.
Dining services is handling food service based on local public health guidelines. Residence halls are open at reduced capacity with enhanced cleaning protocols and appropriate training for staff.
To maintain as healthy an environment as possible and ensure a confident on-campus experience for our community, the University has implemented core responsibilities that directly support a healthy campus environment.
Everyone on campus must consistently ensure they are taking steps to keep themselves and others healthy.
Individuals are expected to monitor their personal health status daily and should not come to campus if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water. Hand sanitizer stations are also available throughout campus. Our campus health campaign emphasizes hand sanitization.
All Florida Poly community members are required to report if they test positive for COVID-19 or if they are self-isolating due to suspected or known exposure to COVID-19.
Reminders and footprints denoting six-foot distance have been positioned in shared spaces. Please follow these markers. Be mindful to maintain a six-foot space between yourself and others in situations where markers are not present.
Shared equipment has been minimized where possible, providing opportunity for people to use their own keyboard, mouse, and other devices as appropriate.
Health officials agree that face coverings can reduce transmission of COVID-19. The use of face coverings in all shared areas on campus is required when social distancing is not possible. A reusable cloth face covering will be provided to faculty, staff, and students along with instruction on how to wear and take care of it. Disposable coverings will be available to anyone who forgot, lost, or damaged theirs. These can be picked up at each entrance of the IST Building, at the IT Help Desk, and at the reception desks in each of the other buildings. A limited amount of disposable coverings will be available, so please make sure to bring yours daily.
Face masks must be worn at all times when indoors unless you are alone in an office or when you are eating; however, you must practice physical distancing when eating. Face coverings should be worn when the individual is outdoors/outside while on campus when strict adherence to social distancing is not possible or when meeting in a group of more than three people.
Remote working will be used where necessary and appropriate to minimize shared office spaces. Courses have been designed to accommodate students wherever they learn, and a process is in place for faculty with serious underlying health conditions to continue to work more safely. The University encourages the use of virtual meetings instead of in-person meetings when possible and appropriate.
Human Resources and the Office of Disability Services are primary contacts for those needing reasonable accommodations for various personal situations related to COVID-19. Human Resources will provide an interactive process for employees seeking accommodations. The Office of Disability Services will provide an interactive process for students seeking accommodations.
The University’s regular cleaning and disinfecting schedule has been reviewed and updated to ensure all University facilities, research equipment and laboratories, and public spaces are cleaned and sanitized according to CDC guidelines. Specific attention in the campus cleaning and sanitation review has focused on:
Air quality has been enhanced through upgraded air filtration, increased outside air, and routine cleaning and disinfecting of all air handling units.
All laboratories and research lab functions are assigned to a laboratory manager whose role includes establishing protocols that align with University standards while regulating the following, but not limited to:
Push-entry doors have been installed in high-traffic areas throughout campus.
Partitions have been put in place for key locations where transactional interactions occur. Furniture has been rearranged to encourage appropriate distance between people. Additional dedicated study space has been identified on campus.
These will be leveraged on campus, allowing for recreation to be spread throughout outdoor areas and not contained solely inside buildings.
Residence halls have opened at reduced capacity with enhanced cleaning protocols and appropriate training for staff.
Dining services is handling food service based on local public health guidelines.
Campus recreation, activities, and athletics are important parts of the community experience at Florida Poly. The campus athletics programs and facilities follow the guidance of the American College Health Association (ACHA).
