Teresa Schuster / Staff Writer
FIU will be operating under “uncertain conditions” in the fall, according to an email president Mark Rosenberg sent to students Tuesday.
There have been 43 confirmed student cases of COVID-19 so far, eight of which are new this week. Ten FIU employees have tested positive for it in the past two weeks, and cases are at an all-time high in Florida, with more than 18,000 new cases over the weekend.
Fall classes will be in four types: face-to-face, certified hybrid, approved synchronous remote and fully designed online. Class formats will be announced the week of July 1, according to Rosenberg, but changes may be made up until classes begin.
Only 25-33% will be offered face-to-face since classroom space is limited due to physical distancing requirements. Priority will be given to classes that cannot be held online or deferred to another term, gateway and introductory classes, and classes with high FTIC enrollment. The typical face-to-face class will have about 20 students.
All courses are encouraged to use Canvas so they can quickly switch to remote learning if needed. If a student or professor needs to quarantine, accommodations will be made for remote learning.
FIU intends to offer additional support to students needing to adjust their schedules, and payment plans will also be offered to assist students with financial difficulties.
“Our priority is timely graduation for all our students,” wrote Rosenberg.
As part of FIU’s Panthers Protecting Panthers plan, face coverings, which FIU will supply free of charge, will be mandatory at all times and 6-foot physical distancing requirements will be implemented. Frequent hand washing and using hand sanitizer is encouraged.
A new app will help identify members of the FIU community who may have been exposed to COVID-19, and all students, faculty, and staff are required to fill out a screening questionnaire on it each day before going to campus.
Most FIU staff will work remotely until at least August 8, and Rosenberg said those who can continue working from home should.
Student housing is planning to open for fall, but lounges and common areas will remain closed. Two buildings in University Apartments will be set aside for students who test positive for COVID-19.
Move-ins will be by appointment, and students can request one starting July 6.
All non-critical FIU events are canceled through at least August 24.
This story was updated on 07/02/2020 to include more details.
About Post Author
