Molloy College Students Move Back In For Spring Semester

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Molloy College welcomed students back to campus this week as the school's spring semester kicked off with many coronavirus guidelines in place.

About 200 students spent Jan. 17 and 18 moving into the school's three residence halls. Students left campus for the Thanksgiving break, and have been using remote learning since. The school canceled in-person classes then due to concerns about the coronavirus spreading during the holiday season.

On-campus classes restarted on Jan. 19, with multiple protections in place for students and staff. The school is using a combination of in-person, hybrid and online classes. In-person class size was capped at 25 percent in the fall, and is being increased to 30 percent this semester.

“The students have been so genuinely excited to return to campus, many of them for the first time because they were completely online for the fall semester,” said Janine Biscari, vice president of student affairs. “We have a very solid system in place: everyone must wear a mask indoors, we have to maintain social distancing, every classroom is set up with chairs six feet apart. People are following the guidelines and we look forward to a continuation of a great year.”

Molloy has put a number of protocols in place to maintain a safe and healthy environment:

• Residence halls have been limited to single and double-occupancy rooms.
• Automated temperature kiosks, installed at the entrances to buildings and residence halls on campus, take the forehead temperature of any person entering the building. If someone fails a temperature check, they are given instructions on the kiosk on how to seek medical attention.
• Residence halls have also been equipped with HVAC air purification, which kills airborne virus particles.
• Signage throughout the campus reminds everyone to observe social distancing guidelines and requires face coverings in public spaces.

“It’s our job to help people observe the New York state guidelines at all times, including mask wearing and social distancing,” said Marcella Dimino, resident assistant at Molloy College. “They also have to take their own temperatures and fill out the COVID questionnaires daily to make sure we’re staying safe. In the beginning it was a lot to get used to, but last semester worked very well.”

Molloy recorded fewer than 25 positive student coronavirus cases in the fall semester.