Heading back to campus next fall poses big test for Washington universities like PLU
COVID-19 has presented a challenge of historic proportions for Pacific Lutheran University and for every other university in the country.
Last spring, our students and faculty had to turn on a dime from in-person to remote learning. Students had to cut short their laboratory research, capstone projects, student-teaching and nursing clinicals.
They lost an entire season of college athletics and musical performances. Over 100 Lutes abruptly returned from studying outside of the county. Our Class of 2020 saw their commencement ceremony postponed.
Throughout the disappointments and stress that accompany unexpected change, I was inspired by the fortitude, empathy and resolute spirit of our students, faculty and staff. Together, our close-knit community pulled through the most complicated of semesters.
We know our community is at its very best when we are together on our Parkland campus — but we learned that no matter whether we gather on campus or in over 700 distance-learning courses, we are PLU together.
On Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation, and I gave supportive remarks at the event where it was announced. The proclamation permits universities in Washington to return to in-person instruction, lectures and educational gatherings on Aug. 1, largely independent of the four-phase safe-return plan announced back in May.
To do so, colleges and universities must adhere to a list of requirements that provide an important baseline of expectations.
It is certainly encouraging to know that if we meet these requirements, we can resume campus learning this fall. However, given recent fluctuations in infection rates, there are questions higher education institutions must ask:
“Can we resume on-campus learning without compromising the health and safety of our students and employees?”
“What will the fall bring?”
At PLU, we’ve concluded that our answer to the first question is yes. As to the second question, it remains to be seen — for PLU and for all universities.
Even as we prepare for our return to campus, we continue to emphasize the novel nature of the virus and the need for creative and innovative approaches. We recognize that students’ personal health circumstances may make remote learning a more appropriate option, and we have accommodations in place, just as we’re working with staff and faculty to assess their needs as well.
Staff and faculty are finalizing protocols and procedures to ensure that when our students return to classrooms, library, residence halls and dining facilities, not only are they as safe as possible, but that they enjoy a living and learning experience that meets our high standards and, frankly, is worth the cost of attendance.
PLU’s comprehensive health and safety plan includes supplying the campus community with quality face coverings; providing no-cost, COVID-19 testing for students; working with the Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department on contact tracing for positive tests; and reserving residence hall rooms for possible self-isolation.
We’re reimagining and reconfiguring teaching spaces to decrease student density; creating innovative dining service plans to avoid crowding our campus restaurants; temporarily loosening our restrictions that first- and second-year students whose permanent residence is beyond 25 miles of campus must live on campus; and ensuring that fewer residential students are sharing living space with a roommate.
With each new day PLU staff and faculty members spend planning for fall semester, the different likely scenarios become slightly more clear to us.
It’s no exaggeration to say that a reopening of campus will be the result of one of the most comprehensive plans ever created and executed in our institution’s 130-year history. Through it all, we will be guided by an unwavering commitment to well-being and safety.
Working for the collective care and well-being of Lutes and our neighbors makes all of us stronger.
No matter the challenge —whether learning from a distance, learning while wearing face coverings, or living, learning, and working as alumni in our community — we remain true to an important aspect of our mission: to thoughtfully care for other people, our community and the Earth.
We are PLU together.
Allan Belton was appointed to serve as Pacific Lutheran University’s 14th president in the spring of 2019 after nearly two years as interim president.