TRC updates fall semester plan

Three Rivers College announced updates to the plan for the fall semester Thursday night, including updated procedures, an adjusted calendar and a new cleaning protocol.

“Over the past weeks the college has worked closely with our medical advisors to develop a plan that allows a safe and sensible return for the fall 2020 semester,” said Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College.

Procedures

Under guidelines for students preparing to return for classes, they’re advised to isolate for two weeks, avoid public settings where they can’t social distance and take daily temperatures.

Student athletes and those who plan to stay in on-campus housing also are required to provide proof of a negative test dated within 14 days of their return to campus.

Last week, the college announced a face-covering mandate, which took effect Monday. Under this, anyone on campus is expected to wear a mask when unable to social distance.

Exceptions can be made, according to the plan, for those with “valid health concerns,” who discuss it with the dean of students.

“Social distancing is often not possible in classrooms and crowded hallways, for instance,” said Payne. “We have been consulting with local health officials, and all recommend face coverings when social distancing is not possible.”

Students will be expected to do a self-assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home if experiencing any.

Instructors will make hand sanitizer available in their classrooms and assign seating.

Advising and faculty appointments will be conducted by phone or online as much as possible. If held in-person, face coverings are required.

Dining will only offer to-go options.

New public events will not be added to the calendar, and those already on it will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Individuals with potential exposure are required to precautionarily quarantine for 14 days, but can work or study from home.

If anybody tests positive or presents with symptoms, they will be required to stay home and be tested. All positive tests require a doctor’s note to return to campus.

The Butler County Health Department will work with college officials to perform contact tracing.

Calendar

The newly adjusted calendar takes into consideration concerns that students traveling for the Labor Day and fall breaks run a risk of bringing the COVID-19 virus back to campus.

As a result, the new calendar has the last day of in-person instruction scheduled for Nov. 24, prior to the Thanksgiving break.

Students will have final exams in-person before the break or virtually the following week.

“Because of the travel that normally occurs during the holiday period, the medical professionals we consulted believed we would stand a significant threat of a rapid increase in cases during what was originally scheduled to be the final exam period,” Payne said.

The winter session will begin on Dec. 10, one week earlier than previously scheduled, and will end Jan. 8 as previously scheduled.

Cleaning

Under the new cleaning protocol, areas where a potentially ill individual has been my be closed for up to 24-hours to allow for a detailed cleaning.

During that time, surfaces will be cleaned with approved disinfectants and be allowed to air dry.

For more details, view the Return to Class Plan on the TRC website at trcc.edu/covid19.

“We developed this plan to protect our students’ health and safety, which is as important to us as the quality of the instruction we provide to them,” Payne said. “We want to recognize our medical advisors, Dr. Dean Dye and Dr. Chris Montgomery, who assisted in creating this plan and managing our current situation.”