We know that this year has been a very challenging one. Thank you for your continued commitment to health and safety—your own and that of others—and for your determination and creativity in maintaining classes, events, and programs, albeit in new (virtual) ways.
The COVID-19 Response Committee has developed, and university leadership has approved, a set of recommendations for operations during the summer 2021 sessions.
This operations plan is based on current information and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. All recommendations are subject to change depending on local, regional, and national COVID-19 information and guidelines, so plans may be adjusted throughout the summer.
In addition to classes, the committee created these recommendations to address procedures for summer events, including field courses, labs, camps, conferences, and admissions recruitment events at the Indiana campus and at regional campuses and sites.
In essence, plans for summer focus on continued efforts to mitigate virus spread. Health and safety requirements introduced in the fall semester, including face coverings and social distancing, will continue to be required on campus.
Class Delivery
Summer 2021 class delivery will continue to utilize the spring 2021 model for in-person classes, offering face-to-face courses when necessary, provided current masking and distancing regulations are followed.
Field Courses
Field courses are required to follow their locality's guidelines as well as any other guidelines required by IUP. In addition, permission for the course must be obtained from the vice president of your division, using the IUP Travel Petition for Mission Critical Activities.
Meetings and Events
Meetings and events will continue remotely, except where face-to-face is mission critical. If a face-to-face event must be held, Pennsylvania gathering limits (which will be in effect starting April 4, 2021) must be followed:
- Indoor events: 25 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the six-foot physical distancing requirement.
- Outdoor events: 50 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the six-foot physical distancing requirement.
Conferences and events that must be held in person will be limited to those that are IUP sponsored and/or those that are approved Conference Services activities. In all cases, the events must adhere to Pennsylvania gathering limits (noted above).
Space for any event on campus must be scheduled through 25Live Pro. This online program is designed to help IUP monitor the “people footprint” for the safety of the university community. It is used to track COVID-19 capacity, personal protective equipment resources, custodial services, and other important health and safety factors. The program is open to all members of the IUP community, both students and employees.
Employee Information
IUP will continue remote work for employees, except where face-to-face operations are necessary to meet mission-critical needs.
Rationale
To arrive at these recommendations for the summer 2021 sessions, the COVID-19 Response Committee used the following:
- Current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education
- Data about activities planned for summer 2021
- Housing capacity
- Health Service operations
- Current numbers of IUP and Indiana County reported COVID-19 cases
- Status of the vaccine distribution and vaccination plan as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us through university-notifications@iup.edu. Additional updates for the spring semester and summer sessions will be posted on the Plans for the 2020-21 Academic Year web page, accessible from the IUP News and Events page, as decisions and information are finalized.
Thank you, again, for your patience and for all that you have been doing to keep our community as safe as possible.
Stay well.
Scott Moore
Paula Stossel
Cochairs, COVID-19 Response Committee