Approximately 225 students and staff attended President Barry Maloney’s Campus Conversation on Thursday, Aug. 11, to hear the latest updates concerning Worcester State’s Safe Return to Campus plans. The president was joined by members of his executive cabinet on the Zoom call. The 60-minute update included topics surrounding testing protocols, HVAC upgrades, the health app, and terminology. Questions were also raised about thresholds for when and if the University would be remanded to remote learning.
President Maloney noted that, unlike other institutions with large out-of-state student populations that recently had to pivot from limited in-person to fully online starts, “Worcester State continues to draw a significant number of students from Worcester County and neighboring areas and therefore I am confident we will not have to pivot to a remote fall start to classes.”
Maloney addressed the University’s ventilation systems, which were upgraded in compliance with the state’s Division of Capital Assets Management (DCAM), and federal and Centers for Disease Control recommended guidelines. These health protocols, along with face coverings, hand sanitizing stations, and more, are part of the Safe Return to Campus [www.worcester.edu/safe-return] planning including signage throughout every building.
Testing of the campus community will be performed in a broad fashion and will include professional colleagues who are physically returning to campus, even if they will be on campus one or two days per week. He said Worcester State has partnered with Broad Institute and have been assured that Broad will turn around tests within 24-hours of receipt to their facility.
The entire Campus Conversation can be accessed here.
The next Campus Conversation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 12:30 p.m. Hosted by Administration and Finance, this Zoom event is for all faculty and staff and will cover campus facilities and human resources safe return plans for the Fall 2020 semester.
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I am curious why the college has not only raised the cost of attendance this year but still has no intention to reimburse any students due the plan to do mostly remote learning. My son hesitated enrolling for the fall semester in this his third year as he does not do well with remote learning. As it appeared he would have most of his classes at the university he decided to enroll. Well it seems now perhaps he wont. Another professor just notified him that classes will be remote because some kids/parents want it that way. Well what if your child does not. Already paid the fall bill but getting disappointed that he does not have an option and still the school charges full prices. I would love some feedback. Thanks Kim
Be on the lookout for an email response from Vice President for Enrollment Management Ryan Forsythe, who will be able to answer your questions.