Mandatory masking, COVID-19 testing: Penn State provides more details about fall semester
Penn State’s decision to resume in-person classes was a relief to some, but the upcoming semester is sure to look different as officials announced a series of initiatives to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases this fall.
Following last week’s announcement, the university received thousands of questions from faculty about its reopening plan, with the vast majority pertaining to masking and enforcing health guidelines. During virtual town halls held Monday, Penn State administrators said the safety of students, staff and the greater community are the university’s main priority.
“It’s important to stress that while we are all enthusiastic about our collective return to campus, how the pandemic continues to unfold across our commonwealth will be greatly impacted by the actions of each and every member of the community in adhering to public health guidelines,” Penn State President Eric Barron said.
Fall classes will start as originally scheduled on Aug. 24. But campus-based, residential instruction will end Friday, Nov. 20. The remainder of the semester — including final examinations — will be delivered remotely and online when classes resume after Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30 to minimize travel and the potential spread of the coronavirus.
And while students are on campus, the university will take precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory face masks and social distancing.
How will Penn State enforce universal masking?
All students, employees and visitors will be required to wear face masks while on campus — including inside classrooms, labs and offices — Barron said.
“We will hold individuals accountable,” he said. “Our expectations, of course, are also that individuals will wear masks on campus and in the community as well as follow other guidelines for distancing and hand washing.”
The university has already purchased half a million masks that will be readily available for those who need them across its campuses, along with hand sanitizer.
“We have the opportunity to be forceful with our employees, but we also have through the student conduct process that they do not belong in a classroom if they do not wear a mask and if they do not social distance,” Barron said.
Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs and co-chair of the Return to Campus and Community task force, said the university already has systems in place that will support staff if a student fails to comply with health guidelines.
Faculty and staff, Sims said, have a “considerable influence” over classroom behavior. If a student does not wear a mask, he said instructors are asked to have informal conversations to remind them about masking expectations or incorporate the rule into grading and participation policies.
“Where students fail to comply despite those efforts, faculty can refer students to our conduct process, the Office of Student Conduct, where students will be required to participate in a disciplinary process before they can return to the classroom,” Sims said.
For individuals who are unable to wear masks, the university is considering alternative options; Lorraine Goffe, vice president of human resources and co-chair of the Return to Work task force, said students who are unable to wear a mask must submit an accommodation request.
Officials did not describe how, if any, enforcement will occur off campus.
Will Penn State provide COVID-19 testing, contact tracing programs?
Matthew Ferrari, associate professor of biology, researcher in the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and co-chair of the Public Health and Science Assessment task force, said the university is organizing strategies to rapidly test for the virus and ensure it doesn’t spread by developing a contact tracing program.
The “multi-pronged” programs, Ferrari said, may change based on the number of cases and outbreaks — if any — are confirmed on campus.
The university will start by testing symptomatic people, and if needed, test those who do not show symptoms of the virus.
The Nittany Lion Inn, which has been closed since March, will be converted into an isolation space for students who test positive for the virus.
“The university is going to report any cases that are detected on our campus or in our staff and employee population to the health department as required, but also, the department of health is going to be recording cases among students at their campus address rather than their permanent address,” Ferrari said.
This reporting process, he said, should be accurately reflected in the state’s daily case number updates. Currently, the state records COVID-19 cases by county of residency.
Three task force groups and 12 action groups will continue to review all of Penn State’s more than 1,700 classrooms, seminar rooms and labs across all instructional campuses to accommodate social distancing requirements over the summer, Barron said.
“Your health will continue to be our highest priority as we move forward,” Barron said. “The Penn State experience may look somewhat different this fall, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing our campuses busy with students, faculty and staff again.”
