The University of Indianapolis will be moving to Phase 1 of the UIndy Road to Re-engagement plan on June 22, University President Robert Manuel announced in an email to students on June 10.
Under Phase 1, all of UIndy’s summer courses will continue to be delivered remotely due to the university starting the summer terms with remote courses, according to Manuel’s email.
On-campus gatherings will be limited to less than 50 people, with six feet of social distancing requirement between individuals, according to Manuel’s email. This is dependent on events being approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Face coverings will be required throughout Phase 1 for all faculty, staff, students and visitors who are approved to be on UIndy’s campus, according to Manuel’s email. UIndy has created a face mask policy and is asking students to familiarize themselves with the policy.
Faculty, staff, students and visitors are highly encouraged to bring their own face masks and coverings to campus, but for those who do not have them, UIndy has a supply of face masks that they can provide to any faculty, staff, student or visitor that does not have one, according to Manuel’s email.
There will be several pickup locations for face masks located throughout UIndy’s campus. According to UIndy’s website, these locations are:
- Campus Police Station, Main Lobby
- Schwitzer Student Center, Room 210
- Esch Hall, Admissions Welcome Center, Room 115
- East Hall, Main Desk
Under Phase 1, UIndy will also be requiring self-screening for COVID-19 for all faculty, staff, students and visitors, according to Manuel’s email. If any COVID-19 related symptoms are present, they should seek medical guidance from the Health and Wellness Center or their personal healthcare provider.
UIndy will be providing testing for those who are symptomatic through the university’s relationship with Community Health Network and the testing centers that are located around the Indianapolis area. The university plans to make testing available through on-campus services during future phases of its re-engagement plan, according to Manuel’s email.
For students who are unable to return to their permanent residence, residence halls and dining services will remain open during Phase 1, according to the email. Krannert Memorial Library, campus gyms and student lounges will remain closed during Phase 1.
UIndy will also be implementing expanded cleaning and sanitation standards that will comply with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s orders for reopening institutions, according to Manuel’s email. In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the university will be placing appropriate signage, floor decals and plexiglass dividers in areas where queuing may occur.
If the number of coronavirus cases continues to fall, UIndy would potentially be well-positioned to move to Phase 2 as early as August, Manuel said in the email. UIndy’s current plans for Phase 2 and the fall include offering more than 700 courses that will meet in a face-to-face format and an additional several hundred courses that will be offered in hybrid formats. According to Manuel’s email, it is the university’s intention to have many face-to-face experiences for students during the fall semester.
UIndy will be creating modifications for student events, clubs and lectures that will allow the university to enable face-to-face involvement, along with having technology-mediated experiences, according to Manuel’s email.
In addition, the university will be limiting each space in residence halls to no more than double occupancy, with enough room to accommodate social distancing guidelines, according to Manuel’s email.
The university will also be employing COVID-19 testing capabilities for the campus community, updated sanitization standards for all campus areas and hoteling areas for anyone who has to be isolated due to having coronavirus systems for a period of time, according to Manuel’s email.
