Stetson COVID-19 Updates – 6/25
With the revised Fall 2020 Academic Calendar, students who leave campus for Thanksgiving will not be returning until the start of the spring semester in January 2021. More information on the calendar can be found on the Fall 2020 Calendar website.
Tiered System from the Safer Campus Task Force (SCTF)
Following reopening guidelines for universities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), the SCTF is implementing Stetson’s tiered system and using multiple security and safety measures to ensure health and safety throughout different levels of COVID-19. Currently, we are moving from the Virtual Environment to Tier 1 for FOCUS Orientation.
Current measures include a combination of:
- Health Response Protocol
- Face Covering Policy
- Social distancing protocol and cleaning protocols from CDC
- Regular self-screening assessments, contact tracing, and testing
- Environmental restrictions (one-direction stairways)
- Restrictions on visitation
- Modifying academic calendar, class schedules, and classroom spaces
- Limiting group sizes and events
- Regulating traffic in high exposure areas (Lynn Dining Commons)
- Increased access to hand sanitizer
For the Fall 2020 semester, a COVID-19 screening program is being developed. Practices for testing, contact tracing, self-quarantine and isolation, as well as protocols for face coverings, physical distancing, and limited-density activities are also being developed.
Budget Priorities Working Group (BPWG)
The Budget Priorities Working Group has submitted their final budget report for the 2020-2021 academic year to the Board of Trustees. On June 25, the Board of Trustees approved of a 15% cut ($16.8 million) and the temporary reductions to the university’s budgets from the BPWG. The new fiscal year starts on July 1.
To achieve a 15% budget cut, there will be
- A freeze on hiring employees, with the limited exceptions for positions to support academic programming and safety measures
- Restrictions on Stetson-sponsored domestic travel until January 2021
- A reduction in expenses, such as maintenance expenses
- Voluntary furloughs beginning in July
- A reduction in salary for administrators, faculty, and staff
Stetson University Fall 2020 Webinar
On July 1, students are invited to join a webinar pertaining to Fall 2020 by the SCTF and academic working group. The panel will take your questions during the webinar or you can send questions on Fall 2020 through this form. The panel will be made up of personnel relevant to the discussion.
Check Stetson’s COVID-19 website and the website’s FAQ webpage, and check your emails for updated information.
I am a sophomore and a digital art major. I am a techie and I have hosted a show on What Radio, I love all things alternative and indie music.
Jackie Tawil • Jun 29, 2020 at 1:40 pm
I’m so excited to go back to Stetson this fall. I feel I learn much better face to face than online. In some classes such as labs, ensembles, and music lessons, you don’t get nearly as much out of it online as you would in face to face. I believe face to face classes are important for being prepared for careers and grad school and am glad Stetson is having them in the fall. I honestly don’t know how I feel about reducing the professors salary because of how hard they work but there obviously was a reason for it. I’m so excited to be back on campus