SARASOTA (WSNN) – Amid more than 6,600 Coronavirus Cases linked to U.S. colleges. The Suncoast’s New College is opening COVID-19 free and plans to keep it that way.
“New College never had online classes prior to the coronavirus,” third-year student, Daria Paulis, said.
Paulis is a Residential Assistant returning to campus and a very different fall semester, as New College goes as remotely as possible.
“It is a very difficult thing, cause we live communally, students and dorms live communally,” COVID-19 Task Force Chair, Anne Fischer, said. “We know that folks are going to want to socialize, I mean they’re in college.”
Fischer says safety is the priority, in part by reducing campus density. Masks are required on campus, indoors and out, six feet social distancing, and social gatherings limited to 10 or less.
“Except if you are in your private office with the door closed for a period of time, or if you are in your resident hall in your room,” Fischer said.
Classes include hybrid options with in-person and remote learning with courses live streaming.
“I think it’s really good their giving people the ability to choose for those who are comfortable to be in person, or for people who are doing like intense labs where you have to be in the lab to complete the course work,” Paulis said.
As this is a very sneaky virus, Fischer says she knows people may get sick, so they’ve prepared some quarantine rooms on campus.
“With the quarantine rooms, once people are on campus, we also have a food delivery service set up,” Fischer said. “We’ll ask that they quarantine for 10 days, and be symptom-free for 72 hours; that’s CDC recommendations.”
New College is testing 10-percent of its population each week. And, through a phone app phone, everyone on campus is asked to report symptoms daily.
“But, what we’re really hoping is that people will care about the community,” Fischer said.
“It’s going to take some getting used to, but we’re hoping that it’ll work out,” Paulis said.
If anyone refuses to follow campus community norms, they will be asked to remain off campus and work remotely. Classes start on August 24th.