Here's What College Will Look Like In Fall In Wisconsin

MADISON, WI —Public colleges in the University of Wisconsin system will welcome students back to campus for the Fall 2020-21 semester after the Spring semester was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement comes as universities continue planning for the upcoming academic year.

“We are preparing an environment that reduces risk so that students, faculty, and staff can return to campus in person this fall,” UW System president Ray Cross said Sunday. “We know the on-campus experience is what our students want.

"At the same time, we must all recognize that our universities will be different this fall than what we’re used to and there will be campus-based decisions on how to best address particular issues. But students will be back on campus this fall.”

The UW System also unveiled a series of recommendations. The recommendations do not include testing and tracing, a subject still under study, officials said.

“Preparing for an in-person return to campus this fall is a tremendous undertaking, and I thank my UW System and campus colleagues, our chancellors, and the Plan Ahead Team for all of their work,” Cross said. “I especially thank our faculty and students, who made the transition to alternative instruction so meaningful. We appreciate their flexibility and understanding as we approach the fall semester.”

The recommendations include:

FALL 2020

• Maximize face-to-face instruction.
  • Identify courses that can only be taught face-to-face (for example, some lab and clinical courses) for priority access to classroom space.
  • Consider moving courses with an enrollment of approximately 50 or more fully online.

• Develop attendance policies that encourage sick students to stay home.
• Optimize classroom usage through evening and weekend classes.
• Continue at-home work opportunities and alternatives for at-risk populations.
• Identify dining and residence hall modifications.
• Determine isolation and quarantine capabilities.
• Create guidance on safe behavior in residence halls.
• Inventory technology needs with an emphasis on equity.
• Develop a plan for phased return to research activity.
• Inventory student services needs.

PUBLIC HEALTH

• Maintain social distancing.
• Emphasize staying home if sick, hand and respiratory hygiene, and wearing a mask, especially indoors.
• Consider ending in-person classes at Thanksgiving.
• Coordinate contact tracing with state and local health officials.
• Train faculty and staff on mental health issues related to the pandemic.
• Develop mental health programming.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

• Recommend or require face coverings.
• Provide education on the use and care of PPE.

FACILITIES MODIFICATIONS

• Create guidelines for classroom occupancy.
• Create guidelines for residence hall operations including cleaning, front desk operations, and common spaces.
• Create guidelines on workspaces, common spaces, ingress and egress.