ORLANDO — The Board of Governors approved the reopening plans of Florida’s 12 public universities. Each of the plans addressed the guidelines outlined in the State University System of Florida Blueprint for Reopening Campuses approved by the Board of Governors on May 28, 2020. The blueprint is the work product of the SUS Task Force that gathered input from academic, health, and campus community leaders.
“I am immensely impressed with the strategic approach to reopening our campuses evidenced in all of our university plans,” said Syd Kitson, chair of the Board of Governors. “While the Fall semester will likely present challenges to all of us, I am confident our universities will be prepared to respond to these challenges in a manner that reflects the expertise and dedication within the State University System.”
Due to the unique situations on our campuses, some plan details vary between the universities. However, all plans
- Prioritize health and welfare;
- Require training for faculty, staff, and students, including increased signage and marketing campaigns;
- Identify varying testing, tracing, and surveillance strategies based on their unique circumstances;
- Encourage self-screening daily via an app, website, or phone before going to campus;
- Identify space to quarantine or isolate students living in residence halls and have plans to ensure academic continuity and provide all necessary support services;
- Prepare to shift all instruction on short notice if necessary in response to a substantive outbreak of the virus or a hurricane; and
- Commit to providing high-quality educational experiences while utilizing technology and flexibility and prioritizing student and faculty welfare.
“Our collective effort to develop a System Blueprint facilitated our ability to create university plans that are greater than the sum of their parts,” said Marshall M. Criser, III, chancellor of the State University System. “We have a System commitment to ensuring student success, and we will continue to work with the Department of Health, the Division of Emergency Management, and engage our students, faculty, staff, and communities as we monitor the ever-changing needs of our campuses.”
To view the university plans, please visit https://www.flbog.edu/session/board-of-governors-regular-meeting-kn7w35nd/.
Other meeting highlights include:
- The Board confirmed the presidential reappointments of
- Dr. Donal O’Shea, President, New College of Florida
- Dr. John Kelly, President, Florida Atlantic University
- Dr. Randy Avent, President, Florida Polytechnic University
For more information, consult the meeting’s official minutes at http://www.flbog.edu/. The Board’s next meeting is July 21, 2020, via conference call.
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Facts about the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The System has 12 universities and more than 420,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the System’s coordination and operation. The Board appoints a Chancellor who serves as the System’s chief executive. For more, visit flbog.edu or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.