COVID-19 may have dampened educational spirits across U.S. college campuses when many students had to learn remotely, but not at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Dr. Stephen Kolison, who just ended his first year as university president, described the recently completed semester to the SUNY Fredonia College Council on Wednesday during his 2020-21 wrap-up report.

“A number of interventions were done on the campus,” he said, describing five areas of focus: sanitation, behavior, testing, telework and vaccination.

Getting students and staff to change their behavior was a challenge, he said. “I think by the time we got to April, I could see that people were tired. … I communicated with my people every week that you can’t really drop the ball. You have to keep a habit.”

He emphasized that the vast majority of those on campus did comply with mandates to wear masks, wash hands and social distance.

There were close to 4,000 tests for COVID-19 on campus during the school year, Kolison said. “Tremendous amount of work to be able to do that, but the testing was very good because we could identify someone who was positive, isolate them, care for them, and then when they got better and got back into the general public, follow up,” he said.

He said telework allowed 50 percent of the campus to stay home and work every day. The period of allowance for telework will end June 30 and campus staff will be expected to work on- site five days a week afterwards, he added.

Over 15,000 people have been vaccinated at SUNY Fredonia, Kolison reported. He said that gave many people who would never have set foot on campus grounds “the opportunity to see our beautiful campus.”

Kolison was proud of the recent commencement ceremony, held virtually for spectators but with in-person stage walks at King Concert Hall. “We had a tremendous one,” he said. Around 500 of the 917 graduates chose to walk the stage. Kolison added, “My hope is next year we will be back in Steele Hall.”

The president concluded with praise for the entire campus.

“Everybody worked very hard to keep this campus alive and open,” he said. “I was surprised at the level of cooperation. Sometimes with students you never know what will happen. But these students were wonderful.”

“Everybody pitched in to get there, and we’re gonna make it,” said Council President Frank Pagano.