The University of Indianapolis formally moved to Phase 2 of the UIndy Road to Re-engagement plan on March 5, two days after University President Robert Manuel announced the decision in an email to students, faculty and staff. The university moved to Phase 2 due to a recent drop in COVID-19 activity in Indiana, and also to stay in-line with community engagement standards from the Marion County Public Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health. UIndy has been under Phase 1.5 since Aug. 3, 2020.
UIndy’s move to Phase 2 does not change the current meeting patterns or delivery formats of classes for this semester, according to the email. The university is not changing the meeting patterns because UIndy is almost halfway through the semester, according to the email.
Under Phase 2, UIndy is able to host events with up to 100 people while maintaining safety and social distancing policies, including staying six feet apart and wearing masks, according to the email. Standard gatherings will be limited to 100 people based on size;, however, there may be exceptions granted for special events or events in large outdoor spaces, according to the email. In these situations, the number of attendees may exceed 100 people, but a waiver will need to be filed and approved at least two weeks in advance by a university cabinet member.
Vice President for Student and Campus Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli will need to approve events related to students, according to the email. Interim Vice President and Provost Mary Beth Bagg will need to approve events related to academic affairs, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Young will need to approve athletic events and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Neil Perdue will need to approve all other events, according to the email.
UIndy will also increase the amount of asymptomatic/surveillance testing that is conducted every week, according to the email. If an increase in the infection rate is discovered in the UIndy community, or growth of virus activity in the larger community, the university will downgrade from Phase 2, according to the email.
In the email, Manuel said that he has asked each administrative vice president to begin to review the support needed to begin slowly, and safely, transitioning some university areas back to on-campus work. The process will take some time, and will only move at the pace that is supported by the public rates of infection and science to keep the UIndy community safe, according to the email.
University-owned residence halls and campus apartments will continue to be open, with restrictions in place to promote social distancing, according to the UIndy Road to Re-engagement Plan. The housing areas will also continue to have the same guest restrictions as Phase 1.5, Vitangeli said in a statement. Since August 2020, students are only allowed to enter their own building in order to combat the number of people entering and exiting.
The university’s updated Road to Re-engagement Plan can be found here.
Phase 2 at a glance:
- Essential Employees: Working on-campus
- Non-essential employees: Most working remotely with some on-campus with approval or upon request from supervisor
- Courses: Delivered under guidelines from Phase 1.5 for semester II
- Gathering Size Guidelines: No more than 100 people
- Social distancing standards: In effect
- Masks: Required
- Student clubs, groups teams, organizations: Continue under guidelines from Phase 1.5
- Student facilities: Open, per size and social distancing guidelines
- University-owned residence halls: Open with restrictions to promote social distancing
- University apartments: Open
- Dining Services: Dining open, but limited to 100 people. Grab-and-go options also available
- University-sponsored travel: Restricted, with approval necessary from provost for academic travel, or chief financial officer for administrative travel
- COVID-19 screening: Temperature tests and testing as needed. This will be in effect before vaccine availability, and in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
