UCF leaders describe reopening plan in virtual town hall

ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of Central Florida will gradually reopen to students and staff ahead of a physical Fall semester, according to President Alexander Cartwright.

Dr. Cartwright led the “Return to UCF Conversation” this afternoon, a public zoom meeting to address questions and concerns regarding how the university will return to in-person classes in late August.

UCF made the move to remote instruction on March 16 with hopes to be back on campus just two weeks later, according to a university bulletin.

The Fall semester would begin August 24 with on-campus classes according to the plan, but UCF would then transition back to remote learning after Thanksgiving break.

New social-distancing measures limiting classroom size and an indoor face mask requirement highlight the more noticeable changes coming to the nation's second-biggest university during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In general, indoor capacity will be capped at 30% during this “initial phase,” upped to 50% once “phase two” begins at an undetermined later date.

Face coverings will be required in all University buildings and indoor “common areas;” refusal to wear them will result in warnings, and later “consequences,” according to Dr. Cartwright.

"We've ordered 100,000 reusable face masks for every student, faculty, and staff member to be distributed at locations at all UCF campuses [. . .] we've also ordered another 125,000 disposable surgical masks that can be given to contractors, temporary workers, and campus visitors as well as others," Dr. Cartwright said.

Students will know which of their classes would remain online once an update is finalized and sent out July 1, according to Dr. Cartwright.

All “large” classes, defined in the report as those enrolling 100 students or more, will continue to be taught remotely.

Some specific courses wherein the principle of physical distancing is not possible, such as clinical training and other classes taught “in the field,” will be structured around new health protocols that would require students to wear personal protective equipment provided in part by UCF.

COVID-19 testing will also be provided -- the report explains who would need to be screened at one of two on-campus testing sites in a “targeted approach” upon their return:

• All students returning to university-owned housing.
• All students and staff residing in Greek housing.
• All student-athletes whether living on or off campus.
• All symptomatic students.

Dr. Cartwright said that nobody else would require a negative test before coming back.

Following a trend among larger places of business across the country, UCF would install a myriad of hand-sanitizer stations, plexiglass in service windows, and also move forward with enhanced cleaning protocols.

A vote will be held June 18 among UCF’s Board of Trustees to formally approve this reopening plan before it’s sent off to the Florida Board of Governors later this month.