Fall Campus Planning Update

Published July 2, 2020

Dear University Community:

I am writing to provide you with an update regarding campus planning activities related to Fall 2020.

Faculty and staff across campus are working hard to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead for the fall semester—including those related to public health, university finances, enrollment, academic continuity, research, and our overall student experience. The Screening, Testing and Contact Tracing Protocol Committee is pursuing technology customized for UB that will allow faculty, staff and students to engage in daily screening protocols and is developing comprehensive health and safety guidelines that will be shared with the campus community.  Faculty, staff and campus leadership are actively:  

  • Inventorying and assessing UB’s classroom and potential classroom space pursuant to physical distancing guidelines and, at the school level, determining which classes will be taught in-person, partially in-person, or fully remote. The new class schedule will be posted online on July 15.
  • Rethinking every part of the UB student experience to provide students the best and safest possible living learning environment.
  • Building IT capacity and personnel to ensure the university is prepared to move into the “modified in-person” setting. This includes enhancing the current range of synchronous and asynchronous technologies as well as expanding training services to better equip faculty and instructional staff for quality teaching.
  • Centrally procuring and distributing a supply of face coverings and sanitation products for faculty, staff and students who are physically on campus.
  • Undertaking aggressive cleaning protocols, using CDC-recommended disinfecting products, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Please know that all determinations about the Fall 2020 semester will align with the Governor’s Executive Orders—including Western New York’s progress pursuant to the state’s Phase 1-4 regional benchmarks.

We will continue to update you regarding the fall semester as our plans develop.

Sincerely,

 

A. Scott Weber                                                                                      Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs