BSU, UI, ISU & ICOM: With fall semester looming, here are schools’ reopening plans

 By Lynsey Amundson / Idaho News 6

With the fall semester approaching for college students, here is Idaho colleges and universities plans for bringing students back to campus for a new school year:

Idaho State University:

• Idaho State will resume full campus operations Aug. 17.
• Classes will be taught in-person.
• All face-to-face instructions will be completed by Thanksgiving break (Tues., Nov. 24).
• Following Thanksgiving break, the university will have one week of online finals.
• On-campus housing will be provided.
• Classes are being moved to larger rooms to accommodate social distancing rules.
• Some classes will make use of hybrid; online and in-person teaching.

Boise State University:

• Boise State will resume on schedule, Aug. 24.
• Classes will be a mix of in-person and online.
• After Thanksgiving, all classes will shift to online.
• Small classes will be moved to larger rooms and large classes will be reduced in size.
• On-campus housing and dining services will reopen for fall. Most dining services will be takeout.
• Dorm residents might be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive in Boise.
• Before employees return to work, they could be tested for COVID-19.
• Physical distancing, as well as wearing masks inside and outside where distancing is not possible
• Asking community members to stay off-campus if they experience symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.

University of Idaho:

• U of I will reopen with in-person classes Aug. 24.

• Classes will be taught mostly in-person. Some classes will be hybrid online and in-person. Students will alternate days to attend in-person. A few classes will be completely online.
• Classrooms will be used at 50% capacity.
• Face coverings are required indoors with few exceptions (private offices being one).
• Face coverings are required outside any time six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
• On-campus housing will reopen. Most housing will remain at standard capacity. Theopholis Tower will be reduced to single rooms only.
• The university will have COVID-19 tests available in conjunction with Gritman Medical Center.
• Thermal scanners are being installed in some of our more public areas (entrance to the ISUB, Dome, etc).

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM):

• ICOM resumed full operations on June 15, and continues to operate under a “new normal”, and the fall semester will begin on time, Aug.3.
• All classes will be in-person.
• Third-year students will be back on campus July 1 to finish their hands-on clinical after it was canceled in spring. ”
• Employees and students and will continue to engage in physical distancing of at least six feet, wear face coverings in public areas and stay home if sick.
• Temperature checks are performed at entrances.
• The college is adjusting schedules, teaching methods, and the use of more spacing to teach while implementing public health guidelines.
• Contingency plans are being created, in case they need to go back to distanced learning.

College of Idaho:

• College of Idaho will begin the fall semester Aug.19, one week earlier than originally planned.
• Finals will be completed before Thanksgiving break.
• Fall break is canceled to give students enough time to finish classes before Thanksgiving break.
• They will have COVID-19 testing available for students.
• On-campus housing will be offered, but students will have a designated time slot to move-in.

All the colleges and universities are working to follow guidelines given by state health officials and the CDC. With COVID-19 and its outlook for fall being unpredictable these plans may be modified as needed.