university of alabama

University of Alabama Among Universities Creating Safety Plans For Reopening Campuses

Before students and staff can return after COVID-19 campus closures, administrators must consider factors such as testing, PPE and enhanced cleaning procedures.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • April 16, 2020

As universities begin to grapple with whether or not to reopen campuses in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Alabama System announced on Tuesday that it has created a task force to develop plans for its three campuses to be the “safest universities in America” when on-campus classes resume.

Experts from across the UAB Health System have been named to the task force, which will be led by Selwyn Vickers, M.D., the dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, and Katie Osburne, the director of Risk & Compliance/System Counsel for the UA System. The system includes the main Tuscaloosa campus as well as the Birmingham and Huntsville campuses.

Committee officials will consider factors such as enhanced cleaning measures, classroom procedures and what the provision of coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment would like for faculty, staff and students. The development of a safety plan will also include housing policies as well as health and security programs on campus, according to a university press release.

Other task force members include Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., who leads the infectious diseases division at UAB Medicine and Craig Hoseley, M.D., the senior associate dean of medical education at the UAB medical school. Student life, student health and academic administrators fill out the rest of the committee.

“We are fortunate that the scientists, doctors and staff at UAB are on the leading edge of efforts to resolve this health crisis,” said Chancellor Fess St. John, who convened the task force. “While it remains uncertain when students, faculty and staff will resume normal activities, no one is better positioned to develop a plan for the health and safety of our campuses than these world-class experts.”

Once the committee produces safety plans for its three campuses, the UA system will make them available to other universities deciding how they will reopen for fall courses -- or postpone in-person instruction until the spring 2021 semester.

Boston University is among several schools already considering that possibility, releasing a recovery plan last week that “envisions the need to consider a later in-person return, perhaps in January 2021” if public health officials determine it is unsafe for people to resume gathering in large numbers on campus. (The university also added a statement that any media reports stating BU was closed for the fall semester were “false.”)

Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding told CNN that universities are making the right choices in acknowledging the precarity of the coronavirus crisis and planning for potentially catastrophic consequences.

"I think colleges should all definitely make plans for delaying start dates and for intermittent closings and reopenings, because epidemiology modeling suggests we may have to go into open and close waves until potentially even 2022," Feigl-Ding said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular