KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Western Michigan University (WMU) officials held two separate online conferences Wednesday to inform the public and student body about what their plans are for reopening campus safely next week.
President Edward Montgomery and other campus officials held the informational meetings during a 9 a.m. conference and a 7 p.m. conference. Montgomery says that every area in Michigan will have their own plans.
“The state’s plan for this pandemic takes a regional view, what’s happening here in Kalamazoo is different than what’s happening in Detroit, or in Lansing or the U.P.,” Montgomery said. “We’ve taken a well-rounded view of the local data and we’ve had extensive consultation with our local health officials. They have indicated they are confident we can open safely.”
Montgomery says the approval of the health department is crucial in reopening the campus.
“Many of the universities that have changed their plans have found themselves in conflict with their local officials or health authority,” Montgomery said. “Instead, we’re working collaboratively with ours.”
Montgomery also said the decision was made in part by surveying the student body, many of whom wished to return to campus for either hybrid or in-person learning. Over 6,800 students responded to the survey.
“A third of those students said they wanted all in-person classes, another 45 percent said they wanted a blend of in-person and online classes, and 22 percent said they wanted all online classes,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery said 85 percent of those polled said they could adapt to WMU’s plan or had no concerns about it. 11 percent of those surveyed said they would change their own plan and enroll after reviewing the strategy.
Montgomery also issued a warning for the consequences of going to parties or other large gatherings.
“Students, here’s the bottom line – How much of Western can stay open is now disproportionately in your hands,” Montgomery said. “If we learn from our peers who are already open, your choices are the most influential factor that can drive case counts in our community.”
Dr. Diane Anderson, Vice President of Student Affairs, presented new student conduct policies that will be in place while the pandemic is ongoing. All students will be expected to wear a mask while on campus and practice social distancing. Those who defy the new policy may find themselves subject to disciplinary action, including suspension.
Violations can include holding or attending large gatherings where masks and social distancing is not required.
“If we find that students have violated our safe return plan, or disregarded executive orders, we will hold them accountable with consequences that could include a suspension from WMU,” Anderson said. “We are taking this matter extremely seriously, and so should you.”
Anderson said that more frequent and enhanced cleaning of bathrooms and facilities will be a daily routine.
Montgomery then discussed viral testing and reporting policies in partnership with the Sindecuse Health Center and Dr. Gayle Ruggiero, interim medical director.
“We will release positive case counts each Friday starting this week,” Montgomery said. “They will be reported on the Safe Return Plan website under the health and safety section. We will report the number of tests, the number of positive tests, the percentage of our tests that are positive, and the number of hospitalizations each week.”
However, when it comes to masks, social distancing and washing hands, Dr. Ruggiero says that it will require effort on the part of students, as well.
“The expectation is that that behavior doesn’t start and stop with Western property, that you need to engage in that behavior wherever it is you are in the Kalamazoo community or back home,” Ruggiero said.
Self-screening surveys will also be held daily for the purposes of contact tracing and determining appointments. Testing will be held at no cost, with results available in 15 minutes or less. Facilities have been designated for those who test positive.
Any positive tests will be reported to local health officials.
Vice President of Facilities Management Peter Strazdas also touched on how facilities have been made safer. Those measures include the installment of 400 hand sanitizer stations, doubling the airflow in buildings, and implementation of new technologies, such as the aqueous ozone misting process.
“This uses a powerful oxidizer proven to clean effectively, destroying a host of germs, bacteria and contaminants on surfaces without any hazardous odors or chemical residue,” Strazdas said.
Surgical bacterial shields will also be used on high touch-points in all buildings.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeniffer Bott also talked about how classrooms will be laid out for this semester, as well as how hybrid learning formats will be structured.
“Hybrid instruction is where 51 percent of the content occurs online, but the rest is done in-person and face-to-face settings,” Bott said. “Some of the contest is delivered at a specified date and time online, and the rest is considered asynchronous, or more at your own pace. Fully synchronous online is a guaranteed day and meeting time in which your faculty member delivers the instruction online, but does so live.”
Bott said that about 65 percent of courses are being taught in person or in a hybrid format. Classrooms have been restructured to do so.
“When you walk into the room, there will be seats that aren’t available,” Bott said. “About 35 percent of the seats will be available in these COVID-setup classrooms.”
Full details and procedures of the plan can be viewed online at https://wmich.edu/safereturn.
The 9 a.m. meeting can be viewed at this link, while the 7 p.m. meeting can be viewed here.
Earlier on Wednesday, WOOD TV 8 announced that the Western Herald, the WMU campus newspaper, had released an editorial calling for WMU to move fully online for this semester. Staff with the Herald said that it would be better in the interest of public health and to prevent more outbreaks of COVID-19.
That editorial follows a similar article released by staff of the Kalamazoo College newspaper The Index this week, which included a petition of over 200 signatures to move online for the fall semester.
Classes at WMU are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 2.
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