Continuity Team Updates for the Week of July 27th

Dear FSU Community,

Please don’t forget that the next virtual Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4th at 1:30 p.m.  

Below are the Continuity Team updates for the week of 7/27. The community is invited to continue sending in thoughts and feedback to c19suggestions@framingham.edu.

Key Dates Moving Forward:

July 15th to August 15th:

  • Periodic repopulation as needed for ongoing work requirements and to prepare for August Repopulation (e.g. safety preparations, install plexiglas, staff scheduling, rearrange furniture, relocations, etc…).
  • All signage established on campus.
  • Employee health & safety training conducted.
  • Telework agreements re-reviewed by supervisors to verify validity for fall 2020.

August 1st – Deadline for first-year students to withdraw from housing without penalty.

August 3rd – Student bills due date.

August 10th – Student drop for Non-payment of bills.

Week of August 16th - Deans and VPs will determine and authorize on-campus and off-campus remote service hours and the level of staffing for each area.  These schedules will be publicized via the web and on office hours.

August 26th –  Move-in date – residential life staff.

August 27th to September 1st - residential student move-in.

September 2nd – First day of the Fall semester.

Continuity Team Updates for the Week of July 27: 

Academic Affairs Continuity Team:

  • Members of the Academic Affairs Team have been working on classroom assignments in order to facilitate coordination with faculty on specific technology needs for specific classrooms.
  • A survey developed by the Subcommittee on The Student Experience was sent out to students this week to identify challenges they faced with remote learning in the spring and concerns they may have about the remote learning environment in the fall.

Administrative Services Continuity Team

  • Reviewed the Warren Conference Center and Inn Reopening Plan.
  • Reviewed the FSU Child Care Centers’ Massachusetts Early Education and Care Department Reopening Plan.
  • Reviewed the Massachusetts Higher Education Control Plan and status of open items.
  • Updates on various FSU academic centers including Danforth Museum and School, McAuliffe Center, MetroWest College Planning Center, and the John Stalker Institute.

Broad Spectrum Continuity Team:

  • Testing Plan and Operation: We signed a contract with Broad to perform a minimum number of tests. Currently setting up where the testing is going to take place (outside); volunteers required for registration; observe self-swabbing; medical professional on site will be required, events personnel to assist with set up is required.
  • Winter Athletics: During the 3rd week of September, the Council of Presidents will make decisions on winter athletics.
  • The Higher Education Control Plan was received on late Friday. Ann McDonald will audit our plan against the Higher Education Control Plan.
  • The group reviewed the updated Massachusetts Traveler Quarantine Requirements. Students have already been recommended to suspend travel two weeks prior to returning to/coming on to campus. Employees will also be required to quarantine if they travel outside of the exempt states. Additional communication to the community on this will be going out shortly.

Enrollment Management Continuity Team:

  • The Enrollment Management Continuity Team did not meet this week. 

Instructional Continuity Team:

  • The Instructional Continuity Team had no updates for this week.

Student Programs and Support Continuity Team: 

  • Each week of August, we will be communicating out to students information focused on one of four areas: academic success, socializing safely, on-campus know-how, and self-care. We want departments/offices to try to coordinate any communications with students in connection to each week's topics. These work in conjunction with the new COVID-19 web page for students on the university website.
  • We reviewed CASA's new homepage for student academic support during remote learning.

We are working on making sure that student employees get the same training about health guidelines and campus safety protocols as other employees.