Tulane University students return to campus today, for the start of the school semester.
The university is taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The university will follow strict CDC guidelines and students, staff, and faculty will be tested for the coronavirus before entering campus.
"Our mandatory, robust daily symptom self-monitoring, testing and tracing program will help reduce and limit the incidents of COVID-19 on our campus," said Tulane President Michael Fitts in a letter addressed to the students. "Tulane will provide free testing upon arrival and retesting throughout the semester. We have established an Arrival Center for residential students at the Hyatt Regency in downtown New Orleans. The Hyatt has partnered with the university to provide the entire property for this purpose. All students who plan to live on campus will be tested at the Arrival Center and must have a negative result before being allowed to move into their campus residence."
Tulane’s campus will also look a little different this semester; there will be 13 outdoor temporary tents used as classrooms and dining halls.
The on-campus school semester begins August 19, and ends November 24 right before Thanksgiving. The shortened semseter is part of the school's effort to mitigate any possibility of spreading COVID-19 as students traditionally go home for the holidays before returning to school. Final exams will be online the week after Thanksgiving.
A spokesperson for Tulane University tells WWL First News, "Our public health strategies include requiring all students, faculty and staff to participate in our COVID-19 testing program prior to returning to campus and throughout the semester, to track their symptoms daily, to wear face coverings (which are mandatory for all students, faculty, staff) and to adhere to strict social distancing protocols."
"We have also established a rigorous contact tracing program and an on-campus facility so any student who tests positive will be socially isolated until they are safe to return to the community. Through these measures and many others, which can be found here, we hope to provide the safest return to campus possible for our faculty and all members of the Tulane community."
Below is more information from Tulane University:
- Health Strategies: All faculty, staff and students are currently required to wear face masks or coverings, maintain social distancing and to wash or sanitize hands and workspaces frequently. For more information, see Health Strategies.
- Fall 2020 Calendar: Tulane University’s fall 2020 semester begins on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with the return of on-ground teaching, learning living and working. The semester will continue through Tuesday, Nov. 24 – with classes ending right before Thanksgiving. For more information, see Academics.
- Student Life: The health and safety of our students is central to our planned return to on-campus learning and living. Tulane remains committed to maintaining its transformative student experience both in and outside the classroom, including public service. For more information, see Student Life.
- Workforce Resumption: In alignment with city and state reopening and health guidelines, we continue to encourage remote working arrangements for all Tulane employees who are able to do so. For more information, see Workplace Resumption.
