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THREAD: (Virtual) Coffee with President Nowaczyk, Dr. Travis, and @FrostburgSGA President Noah DeMichele.
Q: Is there an adequate amount of resources to test all students at Brady Health Center?
Nowaczyk: "we will have sufficient tests. We plan to do testing as students return to test faculty, staff, & students." FSU is working w/ the Univ. of Baltimore med school to test, (cont)
Nowaczyk: "we will have sufficient tests. We plan to do testing as students return to test faculty, staff, & students." FSU is working w/ the Univ. of Baltimore med school to test, (cont)
doing surveillance testing throughout the semester. There will be no cost to students, as Pres. Nowaczyk said.
Q: Does FSU have the choice for students to be completely online if they want to?
FSU is accommodating students on an individual basis should they choose to complete their courses exclusively online.
FSU is accommodating students on an individual basis should they choose to complete their courses exclusively online.
Remotely, students may have instances where instructors choose to hold synchronous class sessions throughout the semester as well.
Q: What about Lane & Cordts gyms?
Lane Center will be open their regular hours. Amenities will be open if they can accommodate social distancing.
Q: What about Lane & Cordts gyms?
Lane Center will be open their regular hours. Amenities will be open if they can accommodate social distancing.
Nowaczyk: "I want to have as normal of an experience for the students," though the community must recognize this "normal" will be very different than any normal the campus has experienced before.
Performing arts events may happen in cooperation with safe guidelines.
Performing arts events may happen in cooperation with safe guidelines.
FSU will utilize outdoor space for events, to create as much of a normal atmosphere as possible for students and the community.
Q: How will social distancing be maintained between students and will there be temperature checks?
There will not be temperature checks at this point campus-wide. However, faculty & staff have been utilizing a self-monitoring app that students will use in the fall. (cont.)
There will not be temperature checks at this point campus-wide. However, faculty & staff have been utilizing a self-monitoring app that students will use in the fall. (cont.)
Temp. checks will be used for sports teams and other events (like perf. arts events).
As for social distancing among students, signs will be utilized for specific entry & exit points in buildings. Nowaczyk hopes student leadership will help promote safe practices.
As for social distancing among students, signs will be utilized for specific entry & exit points in buildings. Nowaczyk hopes student leadership will help promote safe practices.
Q: Will the library be open in the fall?
It will be open. The library is doing a soft opening next week as the campus reopens. The configuration of each floor will be different; seating will be rearranged to accommodate social distancing.
It will be open. The library is doing a soft opening next week as the campus reopens. The configuration of each floor will be different; seating will be rearranged to accommodate social distancing.
Q: When we leave our rooms, are masks a must?
Yes, "certainly inside." If students are outside with no one around, masks are not required. It is assumed that students, faculty, and staff will wear masks when around others.
Yes, "certainly inside." If students are outside with no one around, masks are not required. It is assumed that students, faculty, and staff will wear masks when around others.
Q: Are store tests/registrations (like CVS, Walgreens, etc.) accepted and where can we send them?
Yes, COVID tests/registrations performed at stores are accepted. A place for those registrations will be sent to the campus community soon.
Yes, COVID tests/registrations performed at stores are accepted. A place for those registrations will be sent to the campus community soon.
Q: If someone tests positive for COVID and have an in-person class, will they be able to continue their work in quarantine?
Short answer: yes. Instructors are expected to assist students with their coursework in the event they (students) test positive for COVID.
Short answer: yes. Instructors are expected to assist students with their coursework in the event they (students) test positive for COVID.
Q: Students are already returning to campus, have they been tested yet?
Short answer: no, unless done at their own volition. FSU will begin testing sometime next week as more students return to campus. Nowaczyk says he has not seen many students walking around campus this week.
Short answer: no, unless done at their own volition. FSU will begin testing sometime next week as more students return to campus. Nowaczyk says he has not seen many students walking around campus this week.
FSU will be doing the best they can to follow CDC guidelines and to keep the campus safe. There is no way to guarantee FSU will remain a COVID-free campus as students, faculty, and staff do return on campus.
Q: Do you need a test to move in?
Students will be tested on campus next week. Results will return within two days, including weekends. Some students may be tested before they move in, but it is not a requirement.
Students will be tested on campus next week. Results will return within two days, including weekends. Some students may be tested before they move in, but it is not a requirement.
Q: about the Division of Enrollment Management.
"That division was created in the hopes we would see an increase in enrollment numbers and rates of retention."
"That division was created in the hopes we would see an increase in enrollment numbers and rates of retention."
Nowaczyk says, "given we are seeing a large deficit, declining enrollment, and decrease in state funding," there isn& #39;t enough revenue for the division to carry on.
Dissolving the division is bringing the campus between $200,000-300,000 back to the budget.
Dissolving the division is bringing the campus between $200,000-300,000 back to the budget.
The decision to dissolve the division was mostly a budget-focused decision, according to Nowaczyk. FSU is looking to potentially furlough some faculty & staff in an effort to cut costs as well.
Q: Will students be able to attend football games?
The Mountain East Conference (MEC) is looking at what they will be doing for the fall. Consensus among MEC college presidents desiring both fall and spring sports.
The Mountain East Conference (MEC) is looking at what they will be doing for the fall. Consensus among MEC college presidents desiring both fall and spring sports.
"We are holding off as a conference on making decisions until at least the end of the month."
Nowaczyk would like students (and parents) at games. "If we can make that work for all of our sports," that is what FSU will do.
Nowaczyk would like students (and parents) at games. "If we can make that work for all of our sports," that is what FSU will do.
Q: How will lab classes be conducted?
Short answer: not sure yet. One of the solutions that has been worked on will be to cut labs in half, to take work virtually, or to take labs outside of the classroom. The FAQ page will be updated.
Short answer: not sure yet. One of the solutions that has been worked on will be to cut labs in half, to take work virtually, or to take labs outside of the classroom. The FAQ page will be updated.
Q: How will dining be done?
Chartwells, FSU& #39;s food service provider, has put together a comprehensive plan for dining in the fall. The plan has been posted, including dining options, and can be found on the Fall 2020 page of the website.
Chartwells, FSU& #39;s food service provider, has put together a comprehensive plan for dining in the fall. The plan has been posted, including dining options, and can be found on the Fall 2020 page of the website.
Q: Will the university provide masks to students if they run out? At what cost?
FSU will be providing complimentary masks to faculty, staff, and students. Additional masks will be up for purchase for students in the bookstore (cont.)
FSU will be providing complimentary masks to faculty, staff, and students. Additional masks will be up for purchase for students in the bookstore (cont.)
When students move into residence halls, they will be receiving a COVID-related care package with two masks and sanitation products.
Q: Will students be able to have guests?
Short answer: yes. There is no restriction, but students are strongly recommended to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to have a limited number of guests in the residence halls at one time.
Short answer: yes. There is no restriction, but students are strongly recommended to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to have a limited number of guests in the residence halls at one time.
Q: What went into the fall 2020 decision to have a blended semester?
"There seems to be an indication that students would like to be on campus." The campus community expressed the desire to return to campus
"There seems to be an indication that students would like to be on campus." The campus community expressed the desire to return to campus
Q: What percentage of positive tests would result in a campus closure?
The positivity percentage rate would reach somewhere around 5%. However, the university will not be following a single metric.
The positivity percentage rate would reach somewhere around 5%. However, the university will not be following a single metric.
Q: Are student athletes expected to attend in-person classes if they are in the group not getting tested until after classes begin?
Short answer: yes.
Short answer: yes.
Q: If we put in a request for only online classes, when should we hear back/what should we be doing?
Send email to fall2020@frostburg.edu. If email has already been sent, students should be in the request queue. "I would get requests in sooner rather than later," Nowaczyk says.
Send email to fall2020@frostburg.edu. If email has already been sent, students should be in the request queue. "I would get requests in sooner rather than later," Nowaczyk says.
Q: Testing per jurisdiction.
FSU will have testing for students, faculty, and staff on campus next week. FSU is leaving requests to the state for state-monitored testing sites up to local government entities.
FSU will have testing for students, faculty, and staff on campus next week. FSU is leaving requests to the state for state-monitored testing sites up to local government entities.
Q: If a student finds living on campus is not safe for them, will they be able to move online without withdrawing for the fall?
Yes. If a student feels unsafe, admin. wants to make sure other students don& #39;t feel the same way. Concerns should be expressed sooner rather than later.
Yes. If a student feels unsafe, admin. wants to make sure other students don& #39;t feel the same way. Concerns should be expressed sooner rather than later.
Q: If a student attending in-person classes test positive and is placed in quarantine, how will the university take action?
The Allegany County Health Department will be handling contact-tracing on campus throughout the semester.
The Allegany County Health Department will be handling contact-tracing on campus throughout the semester.
Q: What is the protocol for students who go home for the weekend when they return?
Students will not be tested by the university when they return from a weekend away from campus. Asking students to be cognizant and to stay safe.
Students will not be tested by the university when they return from a weekend away from campus. Asking students to be cognizant and to stay safe.
Q: How will other illnesses be handled with similar symptoms to COVID-19?
Answer being developed more comprehensively now. It is Nowaczyk& #39;s hope that Brady Health will also be able to provide flu vaccines.
Answer being developed more comprehensively now. It is Nowaczyk& #39;s hope that Brady Health will also be able to provide flu vaccines.
Q: Was there another position available to Ms. Cash, or will there be a plan to hire more faculty/staff of color in the future?
FSU plans to hire more faculty/staff of color. Admin is encouraging the deans to work with departments to identify candidates to bring in (cont.)
FSU plans to hire more faculty/staff of color. Admin is encouraging the deans to work with departments to identify candidates to bring in (cont.)
that want to be at FSU. "I continue to see more [candidates]. We are challenged as [FSU] is in a rural community."
Ms. Cash & Pres. Nowaczyk have had conversations about another position for her. "Her career has been as a VP," for a long time. At this time, there is not another VP position where Ms. Cash& #39;s talents best fit.
The virtual coffee hour ended around 6:40 PM EST.
PLEASE NOTE: this thread is not an exhaustive list of the questions asked. A link to the recording of the meeting will be posted when it becomes available.
PLEASE NOTE: this thread is not an exhaustive list of the questions asked. A link to the recording of the meeting will be posted when it becomes available.
