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Username Post: Planning for Penn’s spring 2021 semester        (Topic#24809)
rbg 
Postdoc
Posts: 3044

Reg: 10-20-14
10-30-20 03:54 PM - Post#315741    

Penn has released an update on spring semester plans. Most classes will still be remote, but dorms will be open for students (first, second & fourth year undergrads will have priority, but the school should be able to accommodate third years).

Still no update on athletics.

FYI, per Penn Covid Dashboard
https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/content/dashboard

8/1/20 - 10/24/20
33,733 total tests, 359 total positives, 1.06% positivity rate

10/18/20 - 10/24/20
4.059 total tests, 53 total positives, 1.31% positivity rate

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/announcements/plannin g...

Planning for Penn’s spring 2021 semester
October 30, 2020

We write to provide you with the University’s current plans for the spring semester, which will begin on January 20, 2021.

The current fall semester has given us essential information and insights into how best to manage campus life as the pandemic continues its worldwide spread. With a limited number of students on campus and in West Philadelphia this fall, we have been able to successfully minimize risk to our community through effective testing and tracing systems, rigorous enforcement of the guidelines enacted to protect the health of our community, and, most importantly, the conscientious commitment of students, faculty, and staff, for which we are grateful.

As we approach the spring semester, we have been working with Penn Medicine to dramatically expand our testing capacity. With additional testing available, we are confident that we can support increased numbers of students returning to campus in January. While we will not be able to house as many students as we would have pre-COVID, we will be opening on-campus housing, subject to certain limitations to enable proper social distancing. Students will be in single bedrooms with shared bathrooms at no more than a 6:1 ratio. Priority will be given to first-, second- and fourth-year undergraduates who still wish to live in on-campus college housing, and we also expect to be able to accommodate third-year undergraduates who still wish to live in on-campus college housing. Those who have signed up for on-campus housing will receive specific details directly from Residential Services. A limited number of rooms may be available for graduate students in Sansom Place East for the spring semester. If so, the application will be made available in early December. Students who signed up to live in Greek sponsored housing will receive more specific details from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Students who choose to return to campus will be able to engage in a variety of small-group interactions and have access to library study space, outdoor athletic facilities, and other extracurricular activities, all subject to public health guidelines and our Student Campus Compact. (A decision on spring athletics from the Ivy League has not yet been made.) While we are welcoming students back, we also know that campus life will not be as it was prior to the pandemic. Strict public health protocols will remain in place. Students, faculty, and staff will continue to be required to wear face coverings when on campus or in facilities other than their personal residences, practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings, and follow additional specific requirements as appropriate.

The hybrid educational experiences for all students in the spring are likely to be similar to this fall: most classes will be delivered remotely, with limited exceptions, including courses with clinical experiences and in-person research required for graduation. We expect to see a modest increase in in-person instruction during the spring semester. Specific modes of teaching and course delivery will be determined by the deans and faculty of each school. The University is taking extensive steps to minimize risks associated with in-person instruction, and all core curricula classes will be made available for remote access to support those students who prefer to remain off-campus due to health concerns. Graduate and professional programs will continue to evaluate their own operations, consistent with public health limitations.

Students returning to campus in January will be expected to participate in a quiet period for two weeks, limiting their contact to those in their immediate “pods” and leaving their residence only for essential reasons. This has proven to be an effective way to minimize disease transmission upon entry.

Adherence to the guidelines for conduct during the pandemic as outlined in the Student Campus Compact will continue to be required of all students. Among other conditions outlined in the Compact, students are required to receive a flu shot before their return. Proof of immunization to the flu will be a condition of attendance.

To maximize our ability to protect the community from the coronavirus, all undergraduates will be required to be tested for COVID-19 twice per week upon their return to campus, and all graduate and professional students engaged in research activities on campus or living in the area once per week. We will be utilizing a saliva-based testing system that will be administered at eight sites across campus to ensure easy access to the testing. The contact tracing system put in place this fall will also continue to be utilized.

In addition, in order to offer important additional protection for the Penn community, screening testing will be required for faculty, staff, and postdocs who are on campus for four or more hours each week interacting with other community members, or whose activities on campus involve teaching, or who are regularly in an aggregate setting of ten or more people in a single shared space on campus. All other faculty, staff, and postdocs who are engaged in any on-campus activities are encouraged to participate in screening testing. Penn Medicine faculty, house staff, medical students on clinical rotations, and staff will continue to follow health system guidelines for screening using PennOpen Pass. A detailed testing protocol, designed to ensure a safe and efficient process, will be provided before the Spring semester gets underway.

Everyone who comes to campus (faculty, staff and students) will be required to enroll in PennOpen Pass. PennOpen Pass is a daily symptom checker and exposure reporting system designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the Penn community. Daily symptom checks or exposure reporting on PennOpen Pass are required of those who are on campus.

Administrative functions that can operate remotely will continue to do so during the spring semester. With students returning to campus in greater numbers, there will be a modest increase in essential student support staff available on campus. Faculty and staff are encouraged to consult with their deans and supervisors regarding their specific responsibilities and expectations for spring semester, and to be familiar with the COVID-19 Return to Campus Guide for Faculty and Staff.

While we are confident in our ability to bring students back to campus in the spring, we are also mindful that the status of the pandemic can change, and we will continue to monitor all governmental and public health recommendations, lest there be a surge in transmission that requires a change in our planning and operations. Those who wish to monitor the state of the pandemic at Penn can always see the most current data at our Coronavirus Dashboard. Updated information about the spring semester and Penn’s response to the pandemic can always be found at the Penn COVID-19 website.

We recognize what a difficult year this has been for everyone. To students and families, we appreciate your patience as we do all that we possibly can both to provide a meaningful and uplifting educational experience and to protect the safety of those on campus. To faculty and staff who have worked so tirelessly to ensure the strong and seamless operations of our educational, research, and clinical missions, we cannot thank you enough.

At difficult times like these character really matters. The grace and determination of the entire Penn community have been inspiring. Continuing to work together, we are confident that the spring semester will be a good and productive one. Thank you all for making this possible.

We will be providing additional details in the weeks ahead, and will continue to keep you updated if there are any changes to our plans.

 
Streamers 
Professor
Posts: 8141
Streamers
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
10-30-20 09:46 PM - Post#315756    
    In response to rbg

Thanks for posting...saved me the trouble. The question is what, if anything, does this mean for the hoops season. I take it as a net positive, but we have to see what HYP do and then assess.

 
Charlie Fog 
Masters Student
Posts: 586

Age: 55
Loc: Philly
Reg: 11-12-13
10-31-20 07:40 AM - Post#315764    
    In response to Streamers

Why do we care what HYP do?

 
Streamers 
Professor
Posts: 8141
Streamers
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
10-31-20 08:24 AM - Post#315765    
    In response to Charlie Fog

Historically, their actions determine Ivy League policy on athletics... much as we regret it.

 
SteveChop 
PhD Student
Posts: 1150

Reg: 07-28-07
10-31-20 09:22 AM - Post#315770    
    In response to Charlie Fog

Because they are the Evil Axis that controls Ivy League sports.

 
Quake Show 
Junior
Posts: 218

Reg: 03-04-20
10-31-20 10:24 AM - Post#315774    
    In response to SteveChop

As a current Penn student, there were rumors coming from representatives on Class Board three days ago that the Penn admin was not going to bring back students at all. This was three days ago and from some people who communicate directly with the administration.

My barometer has been (and I think I’m quite right about it) that if we intended to play sports at all - all students would have to be brought back (given that Ivy athletes are students first and not given Power-5 treatment). Now that we’re being allowed back - and thank god we are - I am more hopeful for some kind of season, even if HYP stays out of it.



 
OldBig5 
Masters Student
Posts: 639

Age: 66
Reg: 02-18-18
10-31-20 10:31 AM - Post#315775    
    In response to SteveChop

  • SteveChop Said:
Because they are the Evil Axis that controls Ivy League sports.



They actually control the whole world political and economic systems.

 
section110 
Masters Student
Posts: 847

Loc: south jersey
Reg: 11-22-04
10-31-20 11:55 AM - Post#315779    
    In response to OldBig5

In Calhoun's interview in the Inquirer last week, she did mention the possibility of a non-unanimous vote & some teams playing even if a minority did not. Let's hope people do stand up to the school that would be or thinks it reigns supreme.

 
OldBig5 
Masters Student
Posts: 639

Age: 66
Reg: 02-18-18
10-31-20 05:38 PM - Post#315786    
    In response to section110

  • section110 Said:
In Calhoun's interview in the Inquirer last week, she did mention the possibility of a non-unanimous vote & some teams playing even if a minority did not. Let's hope people do stand up to the school that would be or thinks it reigns supreme.


In football the FCS is not holding a regular season and championship. However it allowed teams to arrange their own schedules if they like. I wonder if some Ivy schools who want to play could hook up with another similar conference?

 
palestra38 
Professor
Posts: 32683

Reg: 11-21-04
10-31-20 06:58 PM - Post#315788    
    In response to OldBig5

That could happen in the spring. I still am astonished that the ADs won't consider an intersession bubble and play the entire Ivy schedule. It would work so easily and there is zero reason not to do it.

 
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