New College plans to reopen with mask and COVID-19 testing requirements in the fall

The Florida Board of Governors has approved the reopening plan for New College of Florida, which includes online and face-to-face classes in the fall.

Donal O’Shea, the college president, addressed the board during its meeting on Tuesday. As an honors college for the liberal arts, New College has no medical or public health school, and O’Shea said he relied heavily on guidance from the University of South Florida.

The two campuses neighbor each other in Sarasota, and their partnership will continue in the new year. USF will gather information if New College students test positive for COVID-19, aiding local health departments with their investigations.

Such investigations, known as contact tracing, might include a student’s class schedule, club memberships and the location of his or her residence hall. Health officials can then track the student’s contact with other people.

All of the students and employees will be tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus, and New College will test 10 percent of the campus population each week, according to the plan.

“We will make arrangements individually for students who do not have access to local testing facilities where they live,” it states. “Those who test positive will quarantine at home.”

New College will require masks and social distancing in all of its indoor spaces, except for bedrooms, and the same measures will apply to outdoor spaces with more than 10 people.

Employees will return gradually, rotating between on-campus and remote work to allow for social distancing. The plan said New College hopes to have all employees “who can safely do so” return by mid-August.

“We aim to make it possible for high-risk employees and students (or those with families at high risk) to work and learn remotely. Unless they choose otherwise (or can be reasonably expected to be immune), we expect faculty over the age of 65 to teach remotely.”

New students will arrive by appointment over a three-day period, attending their college orientation, and returning students will arrive by appointment over the following three days. Students can also request to live off campus, helping the college to limit the number of students in residence halls.

While there has yet to be a confirmed case on the campus, the plan said New College would set aside rooms to quarantine students who test positive during the school year. Students who are quarantined and asymptomatic will take part in remote classes.

According to its plan, New College hopes to provide “care, counseling, and other services to isolated individuals,” including food deliveries.

“Having more than 10 COVID positive students in quarantine at the same time will trigger a thorough review of whether New College can safely continue to offer face-to-face Instruction.”

“Also, if Manatee or Sarasota counties become hot spots, we will evaluate a switch to operating entirely remotely or adopting protective measures, such as restricting campus to visitors and vendors.”

New College will adjust its academic calendar, holding 14 weeks of regular classes before Thanksgiving, and students will complete their exams and final projects remotely after the break.

The plan said New College would get creative with its spacing, which may include outdoor classes. It also said that classrooms, labs and other group areas would have a reduced capacity.

“Our goal is to make working and living on campus safer than working and living in the surrounding community,” the plan concluded.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 2:16 PM.