Georgia State President Announces Plan To Reopen Campuses

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Georgia State University President Mark Becker says a limited number staff and faculty can return to the campuses next week.

Georgia State University President Mark Becker released a video on Tuesday to explain the college’s plan to allow students and faculty back on its campuses. Some faculty and staff members will return next week, with some additional school guidelines to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“Wearing masks will be expected in all public areas and required in elevators, and elevators will be limited to a capacity of four people or fewer, depending on the space available in the elevator,” Becker said in the video. “We’re in the process of mounting signage around our campuses to remind all of us of the guidelines we need to follow to protect others and ourselves.”

The return to campus is part of a phased plan, and teleworking will continue during this plan. Classes for the summer semester beginning June 8 will be online.

The university, which has about 53,000 students across its five campuses, is working on what it calls a “blended learning model” of in-class and online learning for its classes for the fall semester. Some courses may be taught online only to make medical accommodations for some professors.

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The university’s residential halls, facilities and offices will be open in the fall, but the capacity for all three will be limited to abide by appropriate health and safety accommodations. Students and faculty will be strongly encouraged to wear masks in public when they are on campus.

“These are absolutely crucial practices, the best available measures, that we must embrace to limit the advance of COVID-19,” Becker said. “We will need everyone to make their contribution to protecting the health of every member of our university community — students, staff and faculty — by committing to social distancing and wearing masks when in public areas and facilities.”

The fall semester will start on Aug. 24. Meanwhile, the school announced that Becker is hosting a virtual town hall for faculty and staff on June 2.

The University System of Georgia is working with Georgia State and its 25 other schools to reopen classes in the fall. Any plan they have must have approval from the state’s public health officials and the governor’s office before implementing it.