Despite a world pandemic, we continue to deliver transformational learning experiences to University of Idaho students. While course delivery looks different to allow more distance and frequent cleaning, these precautions are allowing the university to hold classes in person. COVID-19 testing, thermal scanning and the Healthy Vandal Pledge are unique tactics aimed at keeping the Vandal Family as healthy as possible. Students are engaging in classrooms limited to 50% capacity, with many seats marked as unavailable. Teaching technology has been added or updated. Many of the universityâs large event spaces â including the Vandal Ballroom and International Ballroom â have been converted to full-time classrooms. Some of the changes are more noticeable than others. In the Lionel Hampton School of Music, performance-based courses have moved outdoors, into the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, or onto campus tennis courts. Other classes have set up in outside amphitheaters to take advantage of late summer weather. These sounds fill the campus that has sat empty since March and are truly music to my ears. Weâve also embraced the HyFlex teaching format, allowing half of the students to attend in-person one day and the other half at the next class meeting. Students not in class are connecting via Zoom to keep in-person numbers down. Our IT teams have tripled the capacity of Zoom-capable rooms to make this effort possible. All students must be tested for COVID-19 or otherwise cleared to enter a classroom. Instructors in each course receive a list of students who are ineligible to attend class â for reasons both related and unrelated to COVID-19 testing. Approximately 1% of COVID-19 tests have come back positive through our in-house testing program in collaboration with Gritman Medical Center, and 21 students are currently being cared for in an on-campus isolation facility after testing positive. Weâre still at the starting line, but I remain optimistic about our ability to continue this in-person experience for our students. It has been inspiring to watch the dedication of those who have worked hard over just a few short months to make it all happen. I am truly proud of what they have accomplished. Our students deserve to be here on campus, learning directly from their instructors. I want to thank those faculty and students who are working with us to deliver quality, live instruction that only our engaged and dedicated faculty can provide. We are committed and working hard to keep classrooms open, but we must stand ready to shift to online/remote delivery should the environment and advice from public health officials change. Fall 2020 hasnât been without its difficulties, but Iâm confident that by working together to keep the campus safe, we will be able to chart our path through this pandemic. So far, our Vandals have shown themselves up to the challenge. |