UAHT releases plan for students this fall, including health kits

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana will provide students on campus with health kits come this fall, as part of their returnto-campus plan released Monday morning.

According to the plan, Hope-Texarkana will begin conducting face-to-face classes with safety protocols in place Aug. 25, while online courses are to set kick off Aug. 19.

In a press release from the UAHT communications department, interim chancellor Laura Clark said the rules and protocols for the campus attempt to make the environment as safe as possible for students and faculty, and that the plan is flexible to changes depending on how the virus continues to affect the community.

“As with all procedures related to this matter, these protocols will be revised and adapted depending on the level of viral transmission in our community and schools,” Clark said. “UAHT administration, faculty, and staff will work to be flexible and agile while responding to new information and guidelines from the CDC, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and the University of Arkansas System. Updates to these guidelines will be provided to students, staff, and faculty directly.”

Among these protocols are requirements for all persons to wear face masks while on campus and to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from one another.

“Fall 2020 will look different from previous semesters at UAHT. However, a healthy UAHT community is a shared responsibility.” —Laura Clark, interim chancellor

The University will also be providing a health kit to all students on campus, which will contain a mask, thermometer, hand sanitizer and a COVID-19 information guide, so students can self-assess before school each day.

To discourage students from having large gatherings on campus, they are closing and minimizing seating for common areas and also changing most meetings to virtual ones. There will still be opportunities for faculty office hours and in-person meetings, but they will be limited to one-on-one meetings and will require face-coverings and social distancing.

The college has implemented specific cleaning protocols for all public spaces, including classrooms. All campus buildings, classrooms, common areas, restrooms and other surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected daily.

To adhere to the statewide contact tracing that is being conducted by UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Health, all students, faculty and staff must notify UAHT if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has displayed symptoms.

UAHT administration has worked to offer more classes online, move full classes to larger areas and limit seating in smaller classrooms.

Classes will be offered using distance learning in addition to in-person classes, and faculty are creating live-streaming opportunities for students.

Classes meeting on MWF will also have a modified start time to allow 15 minutes in between classes for cleaning and safe transition.

“Fall 2020 will look different from previous semesters at UAHT,” Clark said. “However, a healthy UAHT community is a shared responsibility. No policy or action can eliminate all risks, but all efforts and actions put forth are to make the likelihood of spread among our campus and surrounding communities minimal.”