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Academic Instruction
For in-person courses, Rowan will comply with the social distancing and other general safeguarding measures for classrooms.
General Safeguarding
All requirements regarding social distancing set forth by the University and the CDC will be followed. Social distancing (6 feet or more) must be maintained at all times.
Additionally:
- Occupancy of classrooms will be restricted according to social distancing standards. In consultation with the academic deans, the Division of Facilities & Operations has updated the database of classrooms to indicate room capacities adjusted to reflect reduced density.
- Employees and students should remain at least 6 feet apart to the fullest extent possible.
- Signs will be posted reminding employees and students of social distancing requirements.
- Floor markings will be used to identify 6-foot parameters in high-traffic where waiting lines for services form.
- Handshakes and physical contact will be prohibited.
- Guidelines for common areas will follow social distancing protocols. Common areas may be restricted or reconfigured to ensure distancing depending on student use of such spaces.
- One-way directional traffic flow will be considered, where possible.
- Sharing of phones, headsets, desks, etc. will be prohibited. Adaptations and cleaning protocols will be implemented as necessary if sharing is required.
- If weather permits, activities should be held outside to further support safe distancing as appropriate to the class.
Delivery of Instruction
Rowan University’s restart strategy for delivery of instruction is based on programmatic need, defined as the set of priorities that best support student learning and success in accordance with our institutional mission. These priorities are not new, but they are more complex and dynamic under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Provide opportunities for students to interact with instructors and peers in the classroom and to benefit from being in our on-campus learning spaces.
- Ensure compliance with government directives, public health guidance, and higher education best practices.
- Offer flexible options to meet the needs of all students.
For Fall 2020, Rowan will resume instruction in compliance with the applicable restrictions and modifications corresponding to the State-defined stage that is in effect. Hybrid-Flexible (HyFlex) will be the format for most Fall 2020 courses that are normally described as “traditional.” The University will begin in Stage 2 and is fully prepared to transition between stages in response to government directives and public health conditions. While the semester will begin in Stage 2, which will allow for in-person instruction for certain classes, Rowan will maintain readiness for expanded in-person instruction the event that Stage 3 is authorized during the fall term. Per the General Safeguarding standards, remote instruction will continue in all stages for faculty and/or students who are unable to participate in in-person instruction.
The framework for the overall instructional strategy is outlined below.
All Fall 2020 courses have been categorized per OSHE Restart Standards. To facilitate alignment to programmatic need, the category definitions were further elaborated as follows:
Category 1: Curricula that require labs, technical, clinical rotations, and hands-on instruction. Achievement of student learning outcomes involves use of equipment, conduct of procedures, or other physical operations or interactions requiring touch and/or direct non-simulated observation. Experience or competence must be demonstrated for purposes of professional practice, certification, licensure, or accreditation. Physical presence is mandatory.
Category 2: Classes that involve activities in which students are more active than sedentary and may therefore be emitting more aerosols or droplets than normal talking (such as theater, music, or dance). Achievement of learning outcomes involves motion or physical expression, performance, and/or non-simulated actions. Experience or competence must be demonstrated for purposes of professional practice, certification, licensure, or accreditation. Physical presence is necessary.
Category 3: All other classes (including lectures, seminars, and those that can otherwise be conducted through remote instruction). Achievement of learning outcomes involves social interaction, interpersonal rapport and sensitivity, frequent and recursive assessment, or other spontaneous or relational feedback. Physical presence is beneficial.
As noted above, HyFlex will be the format for most Fall 2020 courses that are normally described as “traditional.” The typical mode of delivery for traditional courses is instructional time scheduled in a physical classroom with faculty and students present in the same place at the same time. HyFlex allows students the option to be virtually present from a remote location for some or all of scheduled instructional time, which may be live or asynchronous. To ensure safe options for all and to make the best possible use of instructional time, Rowan has invested in significant classroom technology enhancements and professional development for faculty and is strategically scheduling classes across multiple modes of delivery. The HyFlex mode of delivery permits us to shift as needed between in-person and remote instruction in response to changing public health conditions or individual needs.
Online asynchronous delivery will also support the instructional strategy. Rowan offers online extension programs through its Division of Global Learning & Partnerships. A significant number of traditional courses have also been developed through Rowan Online for fully asynchronous online delivery and are offered to students in any program of study. The online portfolio of traditional courses has been strategically expanded since the onset of the pandemic to make this option more widely available.
Under this plan, Category 1 courses will resume in-person instruction and all Category 2 and Category 3 courses will comply with applicable restrictions during Stage 2. When authorized to do so under Stage 3, Category 2 and Category 3 HyFlex classes designated as physical presence optional will resume in-person instruction with reduced density. Select HyFlex classes will remain fully remote as planned per the academic department’s classroom utilization and faculty accommodation strategy. Physical presence will be subject to adjusted classroom capacity limits and health and safety protocols and may be scheduled on a rotating or intermittent basis. Remote options for students would continue. Category 1 and some Category 2 courses will generally require physical presence with accommodations to be considered on an individual basis.
Planning efforts have involved intensive focus on Category 2 courses, which must employ additional safeguards owing to greater risk associated with those types of learning activities. These additional safeguards have been developed for Stage 3 and Rowan is also prepared to be in compliance with the directive that Category 2 courses should be offered remotely during Stage 2.
Athletics
On July 28, 2020, the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) announced the suspension of all fall sports conference-wide in an effort to help support its member institutions’ efforts to keep their students and staff healthy. Conference leadership, however, will explore the possibility of playing fall sports in the spring.
Rowan Athletics fully supports the decision given the possibility of increased exposure and the health risks for competitors, staff, officials and spectators.
In the meantime, Rowan Athletics is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its student-athletes to participate in skills training and strength and conditioning sessions during the fall semester. Athletics staff members will work with trainers and health care professionals to develop protocols for effectively monitoring student athletes and coaches, including practices and skill development using appropriate social distancing techniques.
Although they will continue training at various levels, students-athletes will not lose any eligibility. A determination will be made later this fall on the status of the Profs’ winter sports.
Sport club and intramural sports will follow guidance used by Athletics as it is developed and implemented by University personnel, and will follow standards set by state and local entities, including the “Guidance for Sports Activities” published by the DOH.
Libraries and Computer Labs
Operations
Computer Labs
All general use computer labs, including those located in library facilities, remain closed during Stages 1. They will be open in Stages 2 and 3.
During Stages 2 and 3, general use computer labs will be open to students with social distancing and cleaning protocols in place and occupancy restrictions enforced. Rowan is aware that many of our students may not have sufficient access to devices and/or internet connectivity. To ensure students are not disadvantaged by lack of technology and to maintain reduced density in computer labs open to all students, we have identified two additional computer labs which can be allocated by approval to students with the most need. One is a resource library in the Office of Career Advancement, which can be made available to any qualifying student as per the criteria, and the second is in the office of the ASCEND program, which houses Rowan’s EOF students and would be available for their use. Rowan’s Testing Center enables students’ use of computers for exams and can allocate any capacity beyond meeting the needs of students with disability-related accommodations to students with other types of need. Rowan’s wireless network is accessible from any campus building and many public spaces on campus. Both residential and commuter students have free access to the Rowan network at any time. In addition to computer labs, there are avenues for students to obtain their own devices, including financial support such as grants from student emergency funds and a modest supply of Chromebooks that can be given or loaned to students demonstrating need.
Libraries
The libraries have remained closed during Stage 2 with a modified curbside pickup service (described in a subsequent section below).
Campbell Library will add a limited in-person service exclusively to Rowan community members as part of Stage 2, in compliance with the relevant sections of Executive Order 157 as required by the Governor’s guidance issued on June 30. In-person pickup is Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In anticipation of further reopening as we move to Stage 3, plexiglass barriers have been installed at service points and in shared staff spaces, signage has been installed to support appropriate social distancing, and sanitizing stations are in place throughout the public areas of the library. IRT also is readying public computer lab spaces in the library to support social distancing and appropriate cleaning protocols. We are putting procedures in place to ensure we observe the 25% of maximum capacity guideline, and any additional guidance issued by Rowan or the State.
Upon authorization by the Governor to enter Stage 3, we will extend our service hours and bring in additional staff to prepare for and support the return of students to campus, while still observing all overarching State requirements for libraries. We are implementing an A/B staff schedule and maximizing remote work options to ensure we remain below 33% staff occupancy, and cross-training staff across teams to ensure continuity of service. We are also removing furniture and adding signage to support social distancing in classroom and lab spaces in the library. Completion of readiness preparations for Stage 3 is targeted for August 24, 2020.
Additional detail on each stage of the plan is provided below:
|
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
|
Staffing |
100% of staff working remotely; provided with laptops and other equipment as necessary. |
>90% of staff remain fully remote; rotating teams of 2 staff to provide curbside pickup service, 4 days/week. |
<33% onsite at a time; A/B scheduling to reduce on-campus footprint; many staff remain 100% remote, based on job functions. |
|
Facilities |
Building closed to all staff, faculty, and students. |
Building open for limited staff to provide curbside pickup service and prepare the building for reopening to Rowan community; After August 3rd, Rowan community members will be welcome, up to 25% capacity. |
Building open to additional staff and Rowan community members, with an anticipated 33% maximum capacity; additional hours provided, including evenings and Sundays. |
|
Services |
Online only, including video calls to provide research support and information literacy instruction. InterLibrary Loan of electronic resources continues. |
Curbside pickup service for print materials added; after August 3rd, virtual service point to support self-checkout and reference services. InterLibrary Loan of electronic resources continues. |
Course reserves service resumes with UV Book Sanitizer to facilitate safe use of rapid turnover collections; digital course reserves will also be offered to ensure students remaining 100% remote have equitable access to needed resources. InterLibrary Loan of print materials will restart when possible. InterLibrary Loan of electronic resources continues. |
Social Distancing Measures and Cleaning Protocols
Computer Labs
IRT will remove keyboards and power cords from every other computer station to maintain six feet of separation for users. The desktops and monitors will remain in place, unusable. Soap bottles and/or disinfectant wipes will be provided in classrooms and lab spaces for occupants to use for disinfection needs in between classes. Anyone entering the room may use the solution or wipes to disinfect the area prior to occupying a seat. No assumption should be made that the previous occupant cleaned the space prior to leaving. Paper towels and/or wipes and waste receptacles are being provided inside each instruction space. All used towels should be placed in the proper receptacle. The receptacle will be emptied once per night or as needed upon request.
Libraries
Rowan University Libraries will comply with State- and Rowan-issued guidance as follows:
- Require employees to wear masks, gloves, and maintain social distancing.
- Provide sanitizing products for staff.
- Require staff to clean areas of shared workspace before and after their shift (public desk stations, shared computers).
- Establish special cleaning procedures with maintenance crews in all areas of the building, including disinfecting of keyboards, touchscreens, tables and other surfaces.
In addition, we will address measures specific to the library facilities:
- Share the re-entry plan with tenants and vendors and ask them to share their plans, questions, and concerns with us.
- Discuss potential changes to contracts.
- Partner with University Publications and Facilities to produce and display signage regarding masks and social distancing.
- Where feasible, remove or relocate furniture in order to encourage social distancing.
- Review options for printing with IRT, Housekeeping.
Disinfecting High-Touch Areas
Following Environmental Health & Safety training explained elsewhere in this plan, custodial crews will wipe down horizontal surfaces, including keyboards, door handles, computer mice, and other high-touch areas once per day.
Occupancy Restrictions
Room capacities in classrooms, labs, and computer labs were revised based on 6-ft bubble standards. Signage and decals will identify the seating locations that comply with the 6-ft social distancing.
Campbell “Curbside” Library Plan
Access Services Staff is working in groups of two or three, each group assigned to a specific day of the week, to provide a “curbside” pickup service for members of the Rowan community. This service runs four days a week (Monday to Thursday) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This service applies only to print materials (including scores, but not dissertations and theses); no media or technology will be available to borrow at this time.
The workflow to supply this service is as follows:
- A patron will request a book using a modified version of the “pull-and-hold” service currently available through Alma/Primo;
- Staff will page the book and update the request in Alma so the patron is notified it is available, placing the book on the hold shelf;
- The patron will call the Library Service Desk during the service hours to notify staff that they are on site and ready to pick up their book;
- Staff will locate the book on the hold shelf, check it out to the patron, bag it for them, and then place the bag in a bin on a table set up by the 322-facing entrance to Campbell, waiting inside the foyer to verify that the patron picks up the materials they requested
- Staff will wipe down the bin and bring it inside after the patron has retrieved their bag;
- Staff will bring the table inside at the end of each day’s shift.
Staff members will observe social distancing and public health guidelines, wearing masks and gloves (Rowan-provided) while handling books.
In addition to providing the curbside pickup service, Access Services Staff may work on the following tasks, where feasible:
- Processing and reshelving returned items;
- Returning Interlibrary Loan items to those partner libraries that are ready to receive them;
- Rehousing and shelving DVD collection;
- Deaccessioning technology and equipment that will no longer circulate due to public health concerns (e.g. headphones);
- Evaluating the Course Reserves collection and coordinating with teaching faculty about which items need to be digitized to support remote learners;
- Inventory and shelf reading;
- Remove and store map boxes in open cubicle space;
- Remove periodicals from the current periodical room; place in piles in alphabetical order spaced on the shelves where the map boxes were previously located.
This plan is compliant with NJ Administrative Order 2020-15, issued by Patrick Callahan, State Director of Emergency Management.
Using Campus Shuttles
Rowan University appreciates that the shuttle provides important services for many students, faculty, and staff. As a result, University officials are working with South Jersey Transit Authority (SJTA) to create a plan that will provide shuttle services to the fullest extent possible while implementing protocols to reduce health-related risks. The following procedures will be implemented for the Fall of 2020 shuttle service:
- SJTA has instituted a cleaning and disinfecting approach for all shuttles and for every ride, which includes disinfecting frequent touchpoints such as handholds, armrests, seating, and door handles, before and after each trip.
- Hand-sanitizer and/or wipe dispensers will be provided on each shuttle.
- Shuttle passengers will be required to wear a cloth face covering.
- Shuttle drivers will not use recirculated air for shuttle ventilation. Instead, they must use shuttle vents and/or lower the vehicle’s windows to bring in fresh outside air.
- In order to maintain a safe distance between each passenger, passenger limits will be 50% of the posted capacity per trip. The shuttle pick-up will be first come, first served.
- Passengers will be asked to social distance (6 feet minimum) while entering a shuttle.
- Passengers must maintain one empty seat between them and the next passenger on the shuttle.
- Information will be posted on-line and around campus as shuttle routes may change to enhance efficiencies and/or due to other University policy changes.
- Riders who fail to comply with the safety measures outlined below will not be allowed to ride the shuttle and may face disciplinary action for noncompliance.
