Tulane University President Michael Fitts announced on Friday that the university's fall 2020 semester will begin on Wednesday, August 19, with the return of on-ground teaching, learning, living, and working.
The semester will begin five days earlier than originally scheduled and will continue through Tuesday, November 24, with classes ending right before Thanksgiving. The accelerated semester is intended to reduce travel in order to promote health and safety, the university said in a release.
Six committees of university leaders, faculty, staff, and student representatives have been working for weeks to provide recommendations to map the path forward to resume on-site classes and operations for this fall.
"Their deliberations have been guided by two fundamental principles," Fitts said. "First, and foremost, the health and safety of the Tulane community. Secondly, the continuation of our educational, research, and clinical mission is critical to preparing the leaders of a post-COVID-19 world, as well as continuing our current battle against this global pandemic."
Planning for the fall semester is ongoing and will continue throughout the summer with feedback from the Tulane community. Fitts added that the university's plans are contigent on local, state, and federal directives, and could change based on these.
"The university's effort to protect the health and safety of returning Tulane students, faculty and staff is aided by the fact that we have access to some of the best medical and public health minds in the world at Tulane," Fitts said. "We are also making decisions about actions that will occur several months in the future, when testing and public health protections are expected to continue to improve," he said.
Tulane's plan includes the goal of testing individuals as they return to campus, as well as frequent testing throughout the school year. The university will also implement a university-wide policy of social distancing in campus activities. On-campus housing will be de-densified, with some off-campus single rooms available. An on-campus infirmary will be established to quarantine and care for ill or test-positive students.
Classrooms will also be adjusted to reduce density, and remote teaching and learning options will be offered. Face coverings, social distancing, plexiglass shields, and hand sanitizers in classrooms and public areas will contibute to creating a safe learning environment, Fitts said. Tulane employees will follow a similar pattern of social distancing and will, where appropriate, continue to work remotely.
"We are grateful that our financial position is such, at this time, that we are able to undertake these efforts and bring back our full contingent of dedicated employees, who are so central to our success," Fitts said.
Although much of Tulane's planning is focused on health, Fitts said that university leaders have not lost sight of safeguarding Tulane's unique relational culture.
"As we prepare to welcome students back to campus in fall, we are also planning for opportunities to connect with peers and faculty to develop those bonds that are such an important part of Tulane life," he said.
While planning a return to campus is complex, Fitts said it is the exact type of challenge for which Tulane was created.
"We were established to combat an epidemic - the seasonal bouts of yellow fever that devastated coastal regions like ours. We triumphed over that challenge and more than a century and a half later were confronted by Hurricane Katrina, from which we emerged a stronger, wiser, more resilient community. We draw on this history, experience and knowledge, as well as our collective will to meet the challenge of COVID-19 today."
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Download our free app for Apple,Android, Roku and Amazon devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
