IMPORTANT Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
June 17, 2020
Dear Current and Prospective RIC Students,
I have talked to many students who are asking about the college’s plans for the fall semester. Students have shared with me their views, optimism and concern about the fall including health and safety concerns, interest in on-campus housing and athletics as well as wondering if there will be face-to-face, hybrid and/or online instruction.
Right now we have a number of planning committees who are working to finalize their recommendations and proposals that will become part of our college’s fall plan. This plan, which will be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) on Monday, June 15, will detail those steps that we will take to safeguard the health and safety of the campus while ensuring that we continue to fulfill our instructional mission.
Campus leadership teams have considered a number of planning scenarios, from fully on-campus and limited on-campus opportunities to a delayed opening, and fully remote. In an effort to be proactive, we are planning for a realistic scenario that aligns with Governor Raimondo’s phased reopening plan for the state. Our approach allows us to implement a fall plan and to assess throughout the fall semester whether the spring 2021 semester will be remote or in-person.
To give you a sense of the scope, our plan includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:
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Academic Advising
Academic Instruction
Access to Buildings
Adams Library
Athletics
Bookstore
Campus Buildings
Campus Events and Activities
Campus Life/Campus Activities
Campus Tours
Career Development
CARES Act
Class Scheduling and Class Sizes
Classroom Mitigation Strategies
Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitation
Code of Conduct
Common Areas
Communications
Commuter Students
Computer Lab
Conferences and Events
Contact Tracing
Counseling and Mental Health Services
Disability Services
Donovan Dining Center
Employee Support
Employee Training
Employee Travel
Enrollment and Recruitment
Faculty Engagement
Faculty Travel
Financial Aid
Freshman Class Experience
Freshman Cohort Model
Graduate Education
Health Education
Health Screening
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Hygiene and Mitigation Practices
Illness in the Workplace
Instructional Design and Technology Use
Isolation and Quarantining
Move-In/Move-Out
New Students
Occupancy and Limits on Occupancy
Outbreak on Campus
Program Placements
Prospective Students
Public Safety
Recreation Center
Remote Teaching and Learning
Residence Halls
Residential Life
Restrooms
Rhode Island College Foundation Support
RI Nursing Education Center
Screening Protocols
Social Distancing Compliance
Space Utilization
Students from Historically Marginalized Identities
Student Health Center
Student Organizations
Student Travel
Student Tuition and Fees
Student Union
Supply Chain for PPE and Other Supplies
Teleworking
Testing
Transfer Students
Transportation
Verbal and Visual Screening
Waste Disposal
Welcome Center
Workforce Development Hub
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In terms of residence hall living, dining and intercollegiate athletics, planning is currently underway. Final determination of these student services and activities will be made in the coming weeks. Freshmen learning communities are also being planned for incoming students who have yet to register.
Once the draft of the plan has been completed and shared with RIDOH, the planning document will be made available for review by the campus community. The plan is expected to be finalized following review by RIDOH in mid-July.
I am incredibly proud of all our students who made it through this past academic year and congratulate those of you finishing up your senior year in high school. On behalf of the entire campus community, whether it be via online or face to face, we cannot wait to welcome you back.
Yours in education,
Frank D. Sánchez
President
