Many of Maryland's colleges and universities have laid out initial campus reopening plans, after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to rely nearly exclusively on online learning for the majority of the spring and summer terms.
Plans are not yet entirely comprehensive or finalized, and schools have made clear that they are subject to change depending on public health and regulatory shifts in the state. The schools hope these plans can help prepare college-goers and their families for what the fall semester experience will look like.
There are a few points of consensus among the various campuses' reopening plans. Here is a snapshot of what students and faculty can expect:
Most students will still be taking classes online
Many schools have already announced fall semester courses will be conducted using some combination of online and limited in-person learning. They have also told students they should be prepared for a majority of their fall semester classes to be conducted online, as the schools look to limit potential coronavirus transmission rates as much as possible.
By way of specifics, University of Maryland, College Park outlined some steps it would be taking to "de-densify" its facilities, or reduce the number of individuals who need to be physically present on the campus on any given day. Classroom and office capacities will be reduced to allow for maximum social distancing, and rotating schedules will be used to allow any programs that require some in-person participation to have access to campus facilities.
Towson University will be employing a particularly unique academic calendar model. The school will be resuming its in-person, on-campus classes one week earlier than initially planned, on Aug. 24. Then, campus will be cleared and all learning and instruction will shift back to being delivered online only the day before Thanksgiving break, on Nov. 24, and the remainder of fall 2020 classes and all finals will be completed remotely.
Capacity in residence and dining halls will be lowered
Universities expect to limit the number of students who will be allowed to live on campus come fall. Loyola University Maryland has said it will be making some changes to residence halls, including taking some dorm rooms offline for the fall semester and creating some spaces that are designated for isolation in case of infection. David Wilson, president of Morgan State University, has said the campus may reduce capacity of its residence halls by about 20%, although the school has yet to release finalized reopening plans.
The University System of Maryland announced all its member universities will be modifying food service options in dining halls to maximize social distancing. For instance, many institutions will offer online ordering and grab-and-go meals.
Masks, testing and other safety measures will be required
Masks and other personal protective gear will be required for campus-goers. Towson University and Johns Hopkins University have announced all faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear face masks or coverings, especially in any public on-campus spaces. UMD said it will also work with public health officials to distribute any additional personal protective equipment that may be necessary.
Many schools are planning for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing to be significant elements of their campus reopening plans. Loyola, for example, has said it plans to test all students, faculty, staff and administrators when they return to campus, and will plan for periodic testing after that. UMD said it will be distributing supplies to support ongoing coronavirus symptom and infection screening efforts as well.
Most campuses are also implementing heightened facilities' cleaning and safety protocols. Towson said it will be installing plexiglass barriers in some high-traffic areas. Hopkins will be limiting campus access, restricting any visitors beyond faculty, staff and students from entering campus buildings.
Research will resume
UMD and University of Maryland, Baltimore will begin gradually reopening their individual and cooperative research enterprises. A research work group will be developing a specific schedule for laboratory activities, including regular disinfections. Hopkins has said during the initial phase of resumed on-campus research, density will be limited to one researcher per every 400 gross square feet.
Sports are still up in the air
Most schools have yet to release specific plans for adjustments to fall campus athletics. Loyola disclosed it is awaiting guidance from the Patriot League and the NCAA to determine necessary regulation changes, including any new safety measures for athletes and spectators.
Study abroad and unnecessary travel is canceled
As international travel remains an activity associated with high risk of Covid-19 transmission, USM has announced all its institutions will be postponing study abroad programs through the fall semester. Towson University went a step further, limiting all non-grant funded university travel to Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area.