Cumberland University released its comprehensive Campus Reopening Plan today for the Fall 2020 semester. The plan includes a hybrid model for all courses, splitting students into two groups to limit the total volume of students on campus at one time.
The plan is available to the public, and can be accessed on the Cumberland University’s Coronavirus webpage. A Campus Reopening Planning Team has been working to prepare for the logistical challenges of returning to campus since early April.
“A great deal of thought and discussion went into drafting our reopening plan,” said Cumberland University President Dr. Paul Stumb. “Our number one goal is to keep our campus community safe, while simultaneously optimizing the student experience in a way that students want, expect, and deserve.”
In an effort to limit the total number of students on campus, Cumberland has divided all undergraduate students into two groups, based on last names. Students with last names A-K will be on campus Mondays and Tuesdays and online Wednesdays and Thursdays and students with last names L-Z will be online Mondays and Tuesdsays and on campus Wednesdays and Thursdays. Limited exceptions to this rule apply, and are available in the Campus Reopening Plan.
As previously announced, the university has also modified the academic calendar for the fall semester, to begin one week earlier than scheduled and end before the Thanksgiving holiday. This decision was made in response to a potential increase in infections of COVID-19 during the late fall and early winter, and the risk of campus contamination due to travel during breaks.
The university is taking various safety precautions throughout the semester, including face coverings in public spaces across campus, increased cleaning and sanitation, limited capacity in all campus facilities, and training and signed agreements for students, faculty and staff. The university will also require students, faculty and staff to monitor and track symptoms daily using the Cumberland app prior to coming to campus.
To view the Campus Reopening Plan, visit www.cumberland.edu/coronavirus/.