June 10, 2020
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
As we continue working together across the WSU system on the
details of a plan to resume in‑person operations at all of our locations
for the fall semester, I want to update you about some of the key decisions we
have made as well as some of the issues we continue to examine.
First and foremost, I want to reiterate that protecting the health and
safety of our Cougar family is of paramount concern. All decisions affecting
the fall semester are being scrutinized from a safety perspective.
As part of our planning process, we are heeding the advice of health
experts. We are consulting with our higher education colleagues throughout
the nation, the region, and the Northwest. In Washington, we are working
closely with the governor’s office, other state officials, and
community leaders in all of our WSU locations as part of the quest to
protect every member of our Coug community.
I understand that many of you are anxious about returning to an in‑person
environment. I empathize with those concerns. In addition to implementing
best practices in health safety standards, we will offer options to students,
faculty, and staff when individuals feel they might be compromising their
health by participating in on‑campus activities.
I am also aware of the totally understandable desire for more details
about our plans. Know that we are intentionally being deliberate in our
decision-making. Our goal is to develop sound, thoroughly considered plans
so that we are not forced to backtrack from decisions once they are announced.
As the summer unfolds and additional decisions about the fall are made, we
will communicate frequently in order to share those details with you.
I also want to encourage you to attend our next COVID‑19 town hall
to learn about the latest developments. The event takes
place from 10:30–11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Here is a summary of our plans to date:
General policies
Physical distancing
Policies to ensure appropriate physical distancing will be in place
across all campuses and locations. These will apply to all in‑person
classes, activities, events, and meetings. Room occupancy limits, foot‑traffic
flow, and related considerations will be clearly indicated by signage.
In‑person gathering limits
No more than 50 individuals will be allowed for any in‑person
group activities during the fall semester. This applies to classrooms, events,
and meetings. The specifics of the restrictions may differ depending on the
health situation in the communities where our campuses and operations are
located.
Cleaning protocols
Cleaning protocols will be in place for all facilities, including
classrooms, instructional laboratories, meeting spaces, and offices used
for in‑person activities at all campus locations.
Testing and contact tracing
We are committed to understanding the prevalence of COVID‑19 on our
WSU campuses and at all of our locations as we make decisions about
University operations. This commitment will include implementation of some
form of COVID‑19 surveillance testing, which will be followed up with
contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine of those who test positive. Measures
will be in place to support students living in residence halls who need to
isolate or quarantine. We will announce the details of our testing strategy
on July 1.
We also will introduce a phone app for contact tracing as part of
our return to in‑person operations. We have not yet chosen the specific
app but we expect to share more details around August 1.
Community engagement
We will continue to work with local health authorities and city and county
governments as we make plans for emerging from the COVID‑19 environment.
On the WSU Pullman campus, for example, we are in the process of working
with the local communities and private residential complexes on a common set
of protocols to minimize the chance of a widespread outbreak of the virus.
Maintenance of an equitable and inclusive learning environment
We will continue our diligence in making sure every learning environment
at WSU—whether face‑to‑face or remote—is equitable and inclusive.
We have worked hard to address the inequities exposed by COVID‑19, and this
work must continue with even greater intentionality moving forward.
Communication
We will implement a public health communication campaign that emphasizes
everyone’s role in keeping themselves safe and, by doing so, keeping
our WSU community safe. Every member of our Coug community must do their
part—on and off campus. The actions of our community members will have
a significant impact on the decisions we make about University operations and
our ability to remain open. Promoting a culture of mutual care and compliance
with health and safety guidelines will be a critical element of our plan.
Audience-specific policies
Return to the workplace
We are committed to bringing WSU employees back safely to in‑person
locations as permitted under phases 2, 3, and 4 of the state’s plan
for reopening. The approach will vary by location within Washington, by
individual circumstance, and by work sector.
Human Resource Services has created
a guide with much helpful information.
Instruction
Instruction will include a Hyflex model, a model that combines
in‑person and distance education delivery. Implementation of this
approach will be determined by class size, a faculty member’s ability
to be in the classroom, the unique requirements of certain courses, and the
availability of technology, among other considerations. Among the key points under consideration that will determine the method of course delivery:
- Face‑to‑face classes should not be taught in courses that require
seating for more than 50 students at a time.
- Faculty should have the option to use the Hyflex approach, offer a course
entirely online, or offer multiple in‑person sections of a course (e.g.,
one‑third taught on Monday, one‑third taught on Wednesday, one‑third
taught on Friday) that requires seating more than 50 students at a time.
- Many courses requiring a seating capacity of fewer than 50 students
should be taught as a distance course if an instructor is in a high‑risk group.
- All courses planned for face‑to‑face delivery should have a
backup plan for online delivery in the event that conditions require such a move.
We also are considering changes to the 2020–21 academic calendar to
minimize breaks and to reduce travel, especially after Thanksgiving.
Student life
The details of our plan for the student residential experience on the
WSU Pullman campus will be announced around the middle of this month.
What we have determined so far:
- Occupancy levels will be reduced in University-owned residence halls
and apartments.
- Physical distancing standards and cleaning protocols will be applied
to all dining areas in all campus locations.
- Students on all campuses and in all locations should expect to see
common areas of use (e.g., student union, recreation) open with physical
distancing, reduced occupancy, identified foot‑traffic flow, and
biosecurity measures in place to minimize virus transmission.
Research
We are committed to ramping up on‑site research, scholarship,
and creative activity in June in accordance with the recently developed
guidance developed by the Office of Research.
In closing, I thank you again for your continued perseverance in the
face of this daunting pandemic and all of the other woes that challenge our
families, our communities, our nation, and the world. As we continue to
support each other and draw inspiration from the dedication of those
around us, I remain confident that better days lie ahead of us.
Best regards,
Kirk Schulz, President
Washington State University
