MILWAUKEE -- UW-Milwaukee will be open for both in-person and online classes this fall, the university announced Wednesday.
“We have given very careful consideration to what is best for our students educationally and to address the health needs of our students, faculty and staff, and our community,” Chancellor Mark Mone said. “We know students and families have been waiting for this announcement, but it was important for us to take the time to get it right. We knew from surveys that our students wanted to be back on campus, but we needed to make sure that we could bring them back in as safe a manner as possible.”
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Face masks will be required, and buildings are being modified to help make social distancing easier, the university said. This includes adding Plexiglas barriers to high-traffic areas.
The university will follow its original academic calendar, with classes beginning on September 2.
Here are some other changes to expect this fall semester, courtesy of UW-Milwaukee:
- High-traffic areas, such as the Bursar’s and Registrar’s Offices, will have Plexiglas installed at their service counters.
- Classrooms will be professionally cleaned at least once per day and stocked with hand sanitizer and disinfectants that students and instructors can use.
- Single and double rooms will be available in UWM residence halls, which are suite-style, with two or three bedrooms connected to a bathroom. UWM does not have group showers or large communal restrooms like some other universities.
- Dining services in the residence halls and the UWM Student Union are being adapted so meals can be ordered and paid for using a cellphone or other mobile device. Service will be contactless.
- Employees and students will be required to wear masks unless they are in a private office or their own residence hall room. Masks also must be worn outside when six feet of distance can’t be maintained.
- COVID-19 testing will be available for students with COVID-19 symptoms at UWM’s Norris Health Center, but widespread on-campus testing of people without symptoms is not planned at this time. Students and employees are expected to monitor their health, watch for possible symptoms and stay home if they are sick.