University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) President Dr. David Hall addressed the UVI community on Tuesday, June 30, during a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the University’s fall 2020 semester plans and operations, in light of the continued challenges posed by COVID-19. Dr. Hall outlined plans to gradually resume in-person instruction this fall with restrictions and preventative measures to ensure the safety of students, employees and the public. In the virtual meeting hosted on Zoom, Dr. Hall also answered questions from students relative to University housing and dining services, the resumption of classes and Coronavirus testing.
“The first principle we are keeping in the forefront of all our actions and decisions is to ensure the health and safety of our students and our employees,” stated Dr. Hall. “Secondly, we will continue to base our decisions on the guidance provided by the V.I. Department of Health (VIDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),” he said. “These principles are the bedrock for what we are trying to do to lower the risk to everyone while returning to our campuses and fulfilling our mission as a University.”
When campuses reopen in early August, all staff and students will be required to wear face masks on campus, in all common areas, in offices, and when entering and exiting classrooms. The University will try to provide reusable face masks to students at the beginning of the fall semester and will make masks available at a nominal cost to ensure compliance with this requirement. In adherence to the social distancing guidelines as set forth by the VIDOH and CDC, individuals participating in campus activities including indoor and outdoor gatherings, classes, or congregating in waiting rooms and lobbies will be required to maintain a distance of at least six feet from each other.
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website – http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.