BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo State on Thursday announced plans to move back to on-campus learning in the fall, with a long list of safety precautions in place.
A letter from school president Katherine Conway-Turner said the move was made "in close consultation with SUNY System Administration, Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward Reopening Advisory Board, and the Western New York Regional Control Room regarding our plans for the fall 2020 semester."
In addition to on-campus classes, there will be hybrid an online courses. The classes that will be taught on campus include courses, labs, studios and practicums, "where in-person interactions and hands-on experiences are critical to student learning," according to the letter.
Some classes will offer lectures online and in-person instruction in smaller groups. Other courses will be 100 percent online.
Conway-Turner said those decisions will be determined by late July.
Buffalo State's residence halls will be filled with students again, but not with the same volume as in years past. The school said it will reduce capacity to help ensure a less-dense campus.
"Single rooms will be provided to students upon request at no additional cost to the standard double rate. More information about housing assignments and a phased move-in plan will be shared in July," Conway-Turner said in the letter.
Dining services will be adjusted to stress social distancing. The school said it will consider expanding takeout, pickup, and meal delivery options.
Fall classes will start on Monday, August 31, though in-person instruction will end before the Thanksgiving holiday. The last three weeks of the semester, including exams, will be online-only. There will be no fall recess.
"In July, if New York State continues on its successful path of reducing the spread of COVID-19, we expect to receive final approval from SUNY System Administration, in consultation with the Governor’s Office, to restart operations this fall as outlined above," Conway-Turner said.