Spring semester gets underway at SUNY Fredonia
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The State University of New York at Fredonia is preparing to welcome students back to campus for the spring semester while continuing policies and protocols that led to a successful fall. Safety precautions and rules put in place on the SUNY Fredonia campus for the fall semester resulted in an overall COVID-19 positivity rate of just 0.82 percent.
Students begin arriving at residence halls on Saturday. Students will be given a health check when they arrive. All students, whether living on campus or off campus, must submit a negative COVID-19 test within three days prior to return, but no later than five days of returning to campus.
"We have developed a reliable system of tracking students' COVID tests as they return to Fredonia," said Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Cedric Howard. "This is just one of many tools Fredonia will utilize to manage positive cases on campus this semester."
SUNY Fredonia also announced all students and employees who live on campus and/or plan to physically be on campus for any activity will undergo weekly surveillance testing. The testing, which will again be processed by SUNY Upstate Medical Center, will begin Feb. 8.
"Weekly testing of all students and employees is a tremendous undertaking, but several areas and departments across campus have worked collaboratively and exhaustively to make it happen," said Fredonia President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. "Fredonia showed it can take the precautions necessary to have a successful semester, and weekly testing is one more strategy to help us achieve that this spring."
"As our campuses are beginning their spring semesters, we are both excited for our students, and also aware of the challenges that still lie ahead because of COVID," said SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. "That is why we have developed comprehensive reopening plans to put the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff first. And, it is the reason we have already increased the frequency of testing on our campuses, and why we will continue to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances, like new strains and higher levels of cases."
Other protocols that were in effect last semester remain in place. Facial coverings must be worn inside and outside of buildings throughout the academic and residential core areas of campus. Starbucks in University Commons and Tim Hortons in the Williams Center will remain open to the public. The Faculty Student Association -- which operates these locations -- asks patrons to remain socially distanced in line. There are markings on the floor to be sure customers are appropriately spaced while waiting. Masks are required inside both locations. Seating capacity at both locations will be at 50 percent, so patrons are encouraged to place orders to-go.
Reed Library has suspended open hours designated for community patrons. Only SUNY Fredonia students, faculty, or staff will be allowed to use the physical space of Reed Library. Community patrons can still receive research assistance by phone, email, text, or chat, as well as request materials through the Reed-To-Go service. For more information, please visit Reed Library's Community Patron Services page at: https://fredonia.libguides.com/community
Other information for the public as it relates to the Fredonia campus can be found at this link: https://www.fredonia.edu/spring2021/info-public
Classes begin Wednesday. Density in classrooms will again be reduced by limiting essentially all classrooms to 50 or fewer in-person students, fully utilizing all instructional slots throughout the day, and assigning classes to classrooms normally utilized for larger classes. Spring break has been eliminated from the spring academic calendar. The last day of classes is May 7.
While testing on arrival and weekly surveillance testing will help the university identify and isolate COVID-19 cases, Dr. Kolison reminded the campus community that the success of the semester ultimately depends, once again, on behavior.
"We have seen instances locally and nationally where even a few bad decisions can lead to a spike in positive cases," Dr. Kolison said. "The discipline we maintain regarding facial coverings, hand-washing, and social distancing will be the ultimate factor in Fredonia having another successful semester focused on academic success. Until herd immunity regarding COVID-19 is achieved, this discipline must be maintained to keep everyone safe and the campus open."