UT Arlington has eyes on fall reopening, expects more coronavirus cases on campus
The University of Texas at Arlington is likely to see an increase in its coronavirus cases when fall classes commence, interim provost Pranesh Aswath said. But the university is going to do everything it can to keep the numbers low.
The university has reported a relatively low number of cases — nine as of Friday, with only two being students — at its campus, which has been vacated since March when students left for spring break. But as the university prepares to welcome thousands of students back to campus, it has released comprehensive plans running over a hundred pages that detail everything from eating in dining halls to safety in classrooms.
In a survey, 47% of UT Arlington faculty said they would feel unsafe teaching in-person in the fall even with personal protective equipment and social distancing. Aswath said the university is working with its faculty to ensure they are teaching in a safe environment, whether that be making accommodations on campus or allowing staff to work from home.
“We are going to do everything we physically can to keep our campus safe,” Aswath said. “But in order for it truly to be safe, it is the responsibility of everybody in the community to take care of this.”
In a perfect world, everyone would follow the guidelines and the cases spread would be minimal, said Diana Cervantes, director of the epidemiology program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. But whenever people from different places come together, it increases the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Although it could vary due to students choosing to enroll in online classes or deciding to forego the semester altogether, UTA typically enrolls up to 60,000 students, 10,000 of whom live on or near campus, according to its website.
Everyone on campus will be required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. The campus will follow guidelines for gatherings from the state and the Centers for Disease Control.
Aswath said people who refuse to wear masks will be sent to student conduct and could face disciplinary action. And if the situation worsens, the university is prepared to close again, Aswath said — this time with a plan to easily transition online. Classes will end early after Thanksgiving as an extra precaution.
In anticipation of the fall, UTA has expanded its facilities to test students on campus and process the tests in an on-campus lab, developed by the North Texas Genome Center. The center could also be used to help process tests from other local sites, a UT Arlington spokesperson said.
Dallas and Tarrant counties, where most of the largely commuter campus’ students come from, have had almost 50,000 COVID-19 cases combined as of Friday.
The UT System Board of Regents approved UTA’s reopening guidelines on June 29 alongside its other academic institutions. These plans include numerous guidelines to help protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. The plans to reopen come during a time where Texas is seeing record numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
While UTA senior Braidon Clemence would prefer to take in-person classes — like he has over the last few years — he said risking his health is not worth it and has opted to take all of his classes online.
“Keeping in mind that UTA is a commuter school makes me very nervous,” Clemence said.
As far as the precautions that will be taken, Clemence believes it might not be enough for a university as big as UTA. He said it’s not that he doesn’t trust people, but with thousands of students on campus, at some point people won’t follow guidelines.
Cervantes believes college students are more understanding of the fact that they need to follow guidelines to keep themselves and others safe. This is the key for a school like UTA, she said: both the administration executing its plan and students following along.
Aswath believes it will work successfully because in a survey given to students, 90% of them supported or agreed with personal protective equipment being used on campus. They want to be in a safe environment, he said.
He also pointed out that fall housing is already about 80 to 90% full, showing that students want to be on campus.
The university will be contact tracing and has set up a housing area for student isolation for those who test positive for the virus or are believed to have come in contact with someone who has.
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
