Protocols & Principles
SOU will design and maintain classrooms, labs, workspaces, activities and events that prioritize public health and safety, using the following design principles:
- Maximize the physical distancing of participants following current CDC and OHA guidelines
- Staggered and modified schedules
- Reduced density of room usage
- Enhanced cleaning
- Continued use of technology for meetings
- Close cooperation with local health authorities for prevalence testing and contact tracing
- Continued public health messaging
- Personal responsibility and public decency
Working Groups
The Southern Oregon University campus working groups have developed guidelines and standards for our reopening, with representation from nearly 50 staff, faculty members and students.
Resumption Plan Elements
The following are important elements that have emerged from SOU’s working group planning:
- To comply with social distancing guidelines, fall term in-person courses may be taught in modified formats, which could include a combination of in-person time in the classroom, video conferencing and online learning.
- After Thanksgiving, fall courses will transition to distance learning, so students will not be required to return to campus for the remainder of the term.
- SOU’s workforce will gradually return over the summer, with special considerations extended to those who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Face coverings will be required in shared or common spaces and at all campus activities until there is a reliable treatment or vaccine. More details will follow, including how SOU will provide face coverings for students, faculty members and staff.
Phased Reopening
SOU is in a reasonably good position to follow Jackson County in resuming in-person university activities for the fall term, given the relatively low incidence of COVID-19 in the county. We will continue to coordinate with health and government authorities and align with county readiness standards and guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, as activities resume.
Standards & Readiness
SOU’s phased reopening is being done in alignment with the State of Oregon “Reopening Oregon Framework,” including “Prerequisites for Phased Reopening of Oregon.” We are also aligned with the “State of Oregon Equity Framework in COVID-19 Response and Recovery.”
County Alignment
- Declining Prevalence of COVID-19
- Minimum Testing Regimen
- Contact Tracing System
- Isolation Facilities
- Statewide Sector Guidance
- Sufficient Healthcare Capacity
- Sufficient PPE Supply
Campus Reopening Timeline
Phase 1
June 15 – July 2020:
- Campus closed to the public for non-university business
- Distance learning for summer term
- On-campus operations limited to critical functions to support academic functions and business continuity
- Face coverings, or an appropriate alternative, required when in enclosed public or common areas
Phase 2
Beginning on or around August 1, 2020:
- SOU will continue to consult with local government and health authorities on phase timelines.
SOU Campus Reopening Plan Highlights
In-person with Modifications
- To the maximum extent allowable under official public health standards, seek to resume in-person, on-site activities
- Until there is a reliable treatment or readily available vaccine, operate in a low-density, mixed learning modality framework
- Comply with appropriate small – and large-group activity standards established by the Oregon Health Authority and Jackson County.
Instructional Delivery
- In-person courses may be taught in modified formats to comply with physical distancing
- Lower density and room capacity for classrooms, labs, workplaces, and events will continue
- Thanksgiving Pivot
- On Nov. 25, fall courses will transition to distance learning; students will not be required to return to the classroom
Workplace
- Phased return of employees
- Employees and supervisors have flexibility to determine specifics of each position – dependent on job duties and supervisor approval
- Employees most at risk should remain working remotely
- Request a reasonable accommodation through the Office of Human Resources
- Daily log for self-health
Public Health and Face Coverings, Community Respect and Concern
- Face coverings are recommended by the CDC and OHA to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus
- All staff, faculty, and students are required to use face coverings in enclosed public or common areas; use with physical distancing measures
- Face coverings (cloth, shield, non-medical grade masks) will be provided to employees and students
- Checklists and educational messaging provided to students prior to fall return
Public Health
- Limited campus access for non-essential visitors, volunteers, and/or activities involving external groups
- Following CDC guidelines, SOU will increase the cleaning and disinfecting of high traffic and high touch areas
- Appropriate cleaning materials for classrooms, labs, and spaces on campus will be provided for the community to take care of the space they utilize
- Installation of plexiglass barriers for all public/student facing interactions
Gathering Sizes
PHASE 1
- 25 or less
PHASE 2
- 50 indoor spaces
- 100 outdoor spaces
Venues: 250 participants or venue square footage/35 square feet per person, whichever is less
Questions about Face Coverings on Campus
When are face coverings required?
Whenever in buildings or spaces on campus where you cannot maintain at least six feet of distance from others who are not in your household.
Are masks and other face coverings effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19?
This pandemic presents challenges that must be addressed collectively. Face masks provide protection primarily for those near the person wearing a mask, so you can consider this an example of shared responsibility: “I’m wearing my mask to protect you; please return the favor by wearing your mask to protect me.”
Can I make or wear my own mask or face covering?
Yes. SOU employees and students are required to wear personal face masks or coverings, whether commercially produced or homemade. Cloth or disposable masks are acceptable, as are buffs, bandanas, scarves, towels and other materials that cover the nose and mouth. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips on how to make and wear your own face masks.
What if I don’t have my own face covering – are there any available on campus?
Yes. Employees and students are encouraged to provide their own reusable face coverings, but the university has a limited supply of disposable masks available for those who are unable to make or buy their own. Masks can be obtained, without charge, at the Human Resources office in Churchill Hall or at the Student Health and Wellness Center.
What kind of disposable mask should I wear, and how long can I wear it?
A new disposable (paper) face mask should be worn each day and used ones should be thrown away. Please do not use N95 or surgical masks, which should be reserved for health care workers.
Do I need to wear a face covering if I’m working or studying alone?
You do not need to wear a face covering when working or studying alone, if you are in a private space with no one else present. However, you should wear a face covering if you are in a public space such as the library – even when working or studying alone – if others could come into the space.
Are face coverings required outdoors?
Yes. They should be worn in outdoor spaces on campus whenever others are nearby.
Are there exceptions to the face covering requirement?
Yes. Masks and other face coverings should not be worn by children under 2 or those with medical conditions such as trouble breathing or inability to remove a face covering without assistance.
Will face coverings be required in residence halls?
Students who are in their residence hall rooms by themselves or with their roommates are not required to wear face coverings. However, coverings should be worn in all common spaces of residence halls, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and meeting or recreational rooms.