Reopening PrattMWP College of Art and Design

 

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant adjustments to the higher education experience in multifaceted dimensions. Over the summer the PrattMWP faculty, staff, and administration have been working through numerous committees, conferences, and seminars to prepare for the fall semester. We are adopting new protocols and procedures to create a healthy and safe environment on campus and a vibrant and fulfilling virtual experience delivering content, information, and connection online.

We expect the fall experience to be fundamentally different on many levels, but are confident that we will continue to maintain strong community engagement and classroom experience that is safe as well as rewarding.

School officials have been in continuous consultation with health care professionals and peer colleges and universities, and we keep current on updated guidelines and recommendations from state and federal government agencies to be certain we are building our fall plan around best practices and mandated guidelines. Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute/PrattMWP has contracted with Bassett Healthcare Network Certified Industrial Hygienist Margrethe Hoff to review all reopening plans and to make every effort to put into place best practices throughout campus.

It will be necessary to maintain an appropriate and consistent level of communication between the School and students regarding policy updates issued by PrattMWP as the infection rates, travel restrictions, State regulations, and new policies may be enacted with little advance warning. Students will be encouraged to check print, email, and social media notifications regularly.

A safe and engaging campus experience will require all students, staff, and faculty to work together respectfully and care for one another. Our combined efforts will serve to validate a campus-wide commitment to our shared goals to be part of an engaging and dynamic arts community.

The PrattMWP College and the Community Arts Education noncredit programs will operate simultaneously through the fall semester and be subject to the same health and safety protocols as required for each program where applicable. Nonresidential Community Arts students will be screened when arriving on campus, but will not participate in on-campus COVID-19 testing.

All students, faculty, and staff on campus, any participant of a campus-based activity, and anyone granted access to campus, will be required to observe and abide by PrattMWP health and safety protocols and all New York State and federal guidelines. Clear communication of all health and safety protocols will be given to students before attending classes. The following guidance is intended to supplement all existing PrattMWP student policies including the PrattMWP Student Handbook and all Campus Safety rules and regulations.

 

Updated: 7-31-2020 (11:30)

1.PEOPLE

A. PHYSICAL DISTANCING

  • With the exception of roommates/suitemates, everyone on campus is expected to maintain six feet (two meters) of social distance space at all times.
  • Students and staff must abide by the signs on campus that indicate a one-way direction, spacing in lines or common areas, and limitations on elevator capacity and occupancy in public restrooms, and all gathering areas.
  • Academic schedules have been adjusted in order to avoid congestion in hallways. Please do not linger in common areas or halls.

Dining Facilities

The dining plan will be guided by the foodservice guidelines issued by New York State.  PrattMWP’s food service provider, Bon Appetit, will adhere to the New York State Department of Health guidelines issued for Phase 3 Food Service for indoor dining. We will continue to monitor guidelines and adjust protocols accordingly. MWPAI/PrattMWP will affirm adherence to Phase 3 guidelines.

  • The dining hall will adhere to physical distancing guidelines. All tables will be spaced at least 6 feet apart. Students will only be allowed to sit at tables with individuals with whom they are living. There will be designated entry and exit points. Once inside the building, students will be required to wear face coverings while standing in food lines and on the way to their seats. A face covering should be worn any time a student is not eating. 
  • Food lines will be identified with stanchions and floor decals, and all food and beverages will be served. There will also be prepared and wrapped salads, sandwiches, etc. available for students to “grab and go.” All meals will be served on disposable plates with disposable cutlery.
  • There will be very limited seating in the dining hall (estimated at 40-48 students). If the dining hall is full, students will be able to take their meals “to go” in disposable containers.
  • Dining tables and chairs will be cleaned and sanitized after each use and contact points in the dining hall will be sanitized frequently.
  • The dining hall may not be available for group gatherings, depending on NYS guidelines on gatherings. 
  • The late-night snack option is under consideration, with limited density.
  • PrattMWP may institute assigned meal times to shorter windows to ensure appropriate social distancing.

Student Life Office/Meetinghouse

  • In-person and virtual meetings will be offered based on the student's comfort level and preference.
  • Student Life staff will conduct a thorough cleaning of the occupied space between student appointments.
  • All appointments will be scheduled for a maximum of 45 minutes, to allow ample time for cleaning practices in between appointments.
  • Appointments must be arranged in advance by telephone or email. It is advisable for students to call upon arrival for permission to enter the building.
  • If a meeting is needed without an appointment, students must contact the staff by telephone for permission to enter the building. If the required staff member is unavailable, students will be asked to schedule an appointment
  • Student Life staff will schedule “drop-in” virtual meeting sessions as needed for open office hours and to schedule appointments.
  • Students are not allowed to congregate in the Meetinghouse hallways or seating areas.
  • Staff and students are required to wear proper face coverings and maintain appropriate distance for the duration of the meeting.

 

B. GATHERING IN ENCLOSED SPACES

  • PrattMWP will follow New York State guidelines for minimizing contact and maintaining social distancing in food service, residence halls, public areas, and classrooms.
  • Residence halls will operate at reduced capacity, avoiding quads and triples wherever possible.
  • PrattMWP will closely adhere to published NYS guidelines for dining and limits on public gatherings.
  • Classroom capacities have been designed to assure the ability to maintain social distancing protocols of 6 feet between students. Classrooms and common areas capacities are capped at 50-55% of maximum.

Workspace

In order to promote social distancing while working on their classwork, whether it be for online or hybrid classes, students on campus will be assigned or will be required to sign up for specific homework locations throughout the campus enabling them to work outside of the residence halls. This will decrease residence hall density when students are not in class.

Meetings

Whenever possible, meetings should be held in whole or in part using the extensive range of available virtual tools (e.g. Zoom, Google Hangouts, telephone, etc.); however, subject to state guidelines, to the greatest extent possible, a resumption of ground operations should support face-to-face meetings.

Meeting rooms will be arranged for social distancing with chairs removed and identifying marks on tables or floors as visual cues to support social distancing practices between attendees. Only essential staff-student meetings will be permitted and they must be scheduled in advance and follow social distancing protocols. Proper facial coverings are required during these meetings.

 

C. ACADEMIC OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY

Academic Instruction

This fall, PrattMWP will implement a plan to maintain excellence in art education while addressing the complexities of the many variables caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Content will be delivered within a variety of options to accommodate travel restrictions, health considerations, or vulnerable populations, whether it be students or faculty, giving students the option of being on campus or learning remotely. Students from vulnerable populations, or who do not feel comfortable returning to campus, will be given the option of taking courses remotely, allowing them to safely participate in educational activities and accommodate their specific circumstances.

Academic Calendar

As a safeguard for campus health and to limit travel that might expose students to illness, the academic calendar has been adjusted so that on-campus instruction will end when students leave for the semester at the Thanksgiving break. All students must be out of the residence halls by 2 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2020. The remainder of the semester will be conducted online until the final day of instruction for the fall semester (December 11, 2020).

Virtual and Hybrid Learning Environments

  • A new Learning Management System (Canvas) will be utilized as a mechanism for consistent delivery of course content.
  • Students will be offered support and training through online modules in preparation for using the new system.
  • The 15-week course delivery schedule will remain consistent regardless of mode of delivery

Adjustment of Course Schedule to Support Multiple Modes of Delivery

  • Course schedules will balance curriculum across in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments, the latter addressing issues of social distancing.
  • When determining the initial delivery mode of courses, PrattMWP will minimize disruption in the current course days and times.
  • Students who are on campus will have access to studios and facilities to research and/or produce art.
  • Classrooms and studios will be adapted to ensure social distancing and safe procedures.
  • Studio workspaces will be clearly marked and extra furniture will be moved to allow for maximum spacing and safe movement.

Types of Content Delivery:

  • Online-only - All coursework is conducted remotely and can be taken from anywhere in the world. PrattMWP will employ the Canvas learning management system in support of these online courses.
  • Online-mostly (online with occasional face-to-face meetings) - These courses will be primarily online, though there may be occasional face-to-face meetings to accomplish activities that cannot be readily completed online, such as using specialized equipment on campus, promoting student community, etc.
  • Hybrid - These courses meet face to face once each week, and allow students to participate remotely when not in person. The time in the classroom may be divided equally into smaller groups of enrolled students to allow for face-to-face learning while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
  • Face-to-Face - A significant portion of the course is offered in person. This will be adopted in classes with lower enrollment and sufficient space to accommodate social distancing.

 2. PLACES


A. RESIDENCE HALLS

  • Housing occupancy will be reduced.
  • All residence hall hallways will be provided with hand sanitizers and appropriate COVID-19 signage, posters, and instructional information.
  • Students will only be allowed access to the residence hall to which they are assigned.
  • Students will be responsible for regular cleaning and disinfecting of their personal space.
  • Residence Life may need to reassign student rooms to decrease population density in certain areas. Students’ suitemates will be their family unit. Suites will house no more than 6 students per suite with students in rooms no larger than triple occupancy. Most rooms will be double occupancy in suites of two to four students.
  • There will be no housing offered after 2 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2020, until the start of the spring semester. Students are advised to pack and make travel plans accordingly.

Bathrooms

  • Bathrooms in the residence hall suites will be limited to one person at a time.
  • Students are advised not to store personal hygiene products, toothbrushes, washcloths, towels, etc. in shared bathrooms.

Laundry

  • Only two occupants will be allowed in each laundry room at a time. Social distancing and face coverings will be required.

Guests

  • All guest privileges in the residence halls are suspended until further notice; resident students will only have access to their assigned residence hall. The exceptions will be on move-in and move-out days, where students will be allowed to bring one guest to assist them. Move-in and move-out assistants must wear face coverings and maintain social distancing from other students and families.
  • Students are prohibited from having visitors in their rooms. Only the assigned occupants of a room/suite are allowed until further notice.

 

B. CAMPUS STORE

  • The PrattMWP Campus Store will adhere to and affirm the New York State Guidelines for Phase 2 In-Store Retail operations.
  • Capacity of the store will be limited to 50% occupancy, inclusive of staff.
  • Physical barriers will be placed at the register.
  • Social distancing markers will be placed to indicate appropriate spacing during checkout.
  • Arrow markings and signs will direct one-way foot traffic throughout the store.
  • Proper face coverings are required for entry.
  • Staff must wear proper face coverings, especially when assisting customers.

 

C. LIBRARY

General

  • The Library will adhere to and affirm the New York State Guidelines for Phase 2 In-Store Retail operations.
  • The capacity of the Library will be limited to 50% occupancy, inclusive of staff.
  • Physical barriers will be placed at the information/circulation desk (iDesk).
  • Social distancing markers will be placed to indicate appropriate spacing during checkout.
  • Arrow markings and signs will direct one-way foot traffic throughout the Library.
  • Proper face coverings are required for entry.
  • Staff must wear proper face coverings, especially when assisting customers.

Hours and Contact

Checking Out Items

  • Whenever possible, the Library staff will refrain from touching items being borrowed by a member or student.
  • Visitors should have their Munson-Williams Membership ID or PrattMWP Student ID available and be prepared to read the number to the Library staff.
  • Visitors will also be asked to read aloud the barcode numbers of the items they are borrowing.
  • Date due cards are available for members and students to take from a stand across from the iDesk.

Curbside Pickup

  • The Library will provide no/low contact curbside pickup at the 510 Henry Street entrance at least through the end of the year.
  • PrattMWP students and Munson-Williams employees and members can call or email to request items, and a specific pickup time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. They will then receive a confirmation from one of the staff.
  • The requested items will be searched and pulled from the collection, checked out on the visitor’s Library account, then placed in a plastic bag to be hand-delivered by the Library staff upon the visitor’s arrival.

Returning Items

  • Visitors are asked to return all items to one of three large plastic bins with lids that are kept on the stand across from the iDesk.

Quarantining Items

  • There will be a delay in returned items returning to circulation.
  • All returned items will be quarantined for a minimum of 96 hours, then cleaned with disinfecting wipes before reshelving.
  • If an item will not withstand the disinfection process, it will be quarantined in a plastic bag away from other items for a longer period of time.

Searching the Stacks

  • Only one person is allowed in any stack row at a time.
  • If assistance is needed in locating an item, please provide the Library staff with the call number of the item being sought.
  • The Library staff will locate the item alone while wearing gloves, and place it on an accessible surface for the visitor to retrieve once the staff member has walked away.

 

D. COMMUNICATION

PrattMWP will implement a system of positive and proactive communication that will convey that the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students are top priorities. Methods of communication will include the PrattMWP website, text and email groups, and social media.

Signs will be placed around campus in key locations, including academic buildings, residence halls, and studios to: 

  • Control foot traffic at exit and entry points
  • Remind the campus community to monitor their health and symptoms
  • Deny entry to anyone feeling sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Provide one-way directional flow through common areas
  • Promote social distancing requirements for all spaces and events
  • Clearly communicate the proper face-covering requirement policy for all entry
  • Remind all to practice proper hygiene
  • Convey other messages as needed

 

E. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

  • All students, faculty, and staff are required to wear a proper face covering when not in their residence hall room/suite, and anywhere on the Munson-Williams/PrattMWP campus. No one will be allowed inside a Munson-Williams/PrattMWP building without proper cloth facial covering that snugly covers the mouth and nose. (Loose-fitting bandana-style coverings that hang down are not acceptable.)
  • Each student will be provided with a washable/reusable face covering. A supply of PPE will also be available on campus at specific locations should an employee or student need an immediate replacement or for visitors/contractors.
  • Proper techniques for applying and removing all PPE (face coverings, gloves, etc.) are detailed below:

Wearing face covering: Wash your hands before putting on your face covering. Fit it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin. Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face. Make sure you can breathe easily. Do not touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands.

Removing face covering: Untie the strings behind your head or stretch away the ear loops. Handle only by the ear loops or ties. Fold outside corners together. Place the covering in the washing machine or in trash if disposable, damaged, or soiled. Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.

Face Shields: It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings. Some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected. If face shields are used without a proper face covering, they should wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single-use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Glove removal: Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist. Do not touch your bare skin. Peel the glove away from your body, pulling it inside out. Hold the glove you just removed in your gloved hand. Peel off the second glove by putting your bare fingers inside the glove at the top of your wrist. Turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from your body, leaving the first glove inside the second. Dispose of the gloves safely. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.

 

E. ENGINEERING CONTROLS

  • Physical plastic barriers have been installed at all points of sale and other areas of transaction, including the School of Art reception desk, the Library desk, the Campus Store, and Campus Safety.
  • The HVAC systems in PrattMWP buildings will be adjusted to allow for increased circulation of fresh air when feasible, and higher grade filters.
  • Where possible, the HVAC system in PrattMWP buildings will be fitted with high-MERV rated HEPA filters.

 

G. PERSONAL HYGIENE

All students, faculty, and staff must also follow CDC guidelines for personal hygiene:

  • Wash hands frequently with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  • Utilize hand sanitizer when handwashing is not available. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout campus. Additional units have been installed.
  • Cover all coughs or sneezes thoroughly; dispose of soiled tissues; sanitize hands.
  • Follow guidelines for daily health screening. Report any symptoms to the Nurse and Student Life Office immediately.

 

H. CLEANING AND SANITIZING

In addition to the PPE measures and engineering controls taken by personnel and students, the Physical Plant division has outlined a rigorous cleaning procedure. Logbooks are maintained daily by the cleaning staff as the tasks are completed, and will be reviewed daily by the Maintenance supervisor or designees to ensure compliance.

General Cleaning

  • Classrooms and restrooms will be cleaned each morning, starting five (5) hours before classes begin, Monday through Friday. This early schedule will reduce potential exposure between students, faculty, and cleaning staff and allow ample “dwell” time for the cleaning and sanitizing materials to be effective in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Classrooms and restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized in the early morning hours on weekends.
  • Disinfectant Spray- (Clorox Commercial Solution disinfecting bio-stain and odor remover EPA # 67619-33) or wipes (Disinfecting wipes EPA# 6836-313) will be used to sanitize common touchpoints – door handles, faucets, desktops, chairs, etc.
  • Clorox 360 disinfecting cleaner (EPA 67619-38) will be used in the classrooms on a weekly basis (Mondays) prior to classes commencing. This powered ionized spray cleaner will treat all exposed surfaces within the space.
  • Between daily cleanings and as necessary, faculty will sanitize frequently used touchpoints within their classrooms using the above-mentioned disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes. These supplies will be provided to the faculty by the maintenance department as requested. There will be supply at the School of Art reception desk if classrooms run low.
  • Students will be required to assist in cleaning efforts as needed at the conclusion of class or studio sessions by disinfecting their personal area and any shared equipment they may have used. Disinfectant materials will be provided and disposable gloves will be made available.
  • Residence hall door handles, hallway floors, trash collection rooms, and laundry rooms will be cleaned daily. Door handles and washer/dryer touchpoints will also be sanitized daily using the above-mentioned disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes.
  • The Library area and restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized with the disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes daily. Disinfectant spray will be provided to Library staff for additional sanitizing as needed between daily cleaning.
  • The Student Center will be cleaned three times per day after each of the meals, Monday through Friday and then two times per day on weekends. High touchpoints will be sanitized using the disinfectant spray or wipes depending on the application.

In the case of a student testing positive for COVID-19:

  • Areas used by the person who is confirmed to have COVID-19 will be closed off and the room or space will be treated with Clorox 360.
  • Staff will wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If the 24 hours period is not feasible, staff will wait as long as possible.
  • Shared spaces used by the person confirmed to have COVID-19 (e.g. elevators, lobbies, entrances) must also be shut down and cleaned and disinfected.
  • If possible, outside doors and windows will be opened to increase air circulation in the area.
  • All areas used by the person confirmed to have COVID-19, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, and shared equipment will be cleaned and disinfected.
  • Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use. Those without close contact with the person confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the area immediately after cleaning and disinfection.
  • If more than seven days have passed since the person who is confirmed to have COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary, but routine cleaning and disinfection should continue.

Cleaning Log

A log will be maintained at each building and located in the maintenance closet. It will be the duty of the staff member doing the cleaning to ensure that the data has been recorded properly in the log.

Shared Equipment

Shared equipment should be sanitized by faculty, staff, and students following each use. If frequent cleaning and sanitizing could result in the deterioration of the equipment, then a hand sanitizing station will be made available next to the equipment.

3. PROCESSES

A. HEALTH MONITORING

Once students are on campus, PrattMWP will require periodic testing, contact tracing, and isolation and quarantining as needed.

All students, faculty, and staff will be required to get an influenza vaccine unless they provide a documented medical exception. PrattMWP will offer a free flu shot clinic.

 Testing

  • Testing is key to minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. All students will be required to have a diagnostic molecular (PCR) test completed one week prior to their scheduled arrival on campus, if possible. Documented results should be brought with the student to check-in on their assigned move-in day.
  • PrattMWP has contracted with Masonic Medical Research Institute and has secured testing for each student (at PrattMWP’s expense) upon arrival. Students will then be required to quarantine in their residence hall room until test results are received, approximately 24 to 36 hours.
  • If a student tests positive, PrattMWP will move the student to isolation, initiate contact tracing, and quarantine any on-campus contacts. Students may be tested periodically during the semester on a schedule to be determined or on an as-needed basis.
  • Any symptomatic students will be isolated.
  • We will use the metric of five positive cases as an early warning sign that positive cases may be increasing beyond an acceptable level, and institute a full-campus quarantine/pause. Classes will go online.
  • PrattMWP is working with the medical staff of Bassett Healthcare Network to determine the level of infection that will require the suspension of residential operations. This metric will be added to the policy when available.

 Daily Screening

  • Students are required to conduct a daily symptom screening, following the guidelines clearly posted in each suite, and before leaving their suite each morning.
  • If a student is experiencing any symptoms, they must not leave their room and are to call AND email the nurse (ext. 2230 and nurse@mwpai.edu) or Student Life (ext. 2183 and studentlife@mwpai.edu) immediately. Students experiencing shortness of breath, or any symptom requiring immediate medical attention, must call Campus Safety (ext. 4444).
  • A student daily screening app is under consideration.
  • Community Arts Education participants (non-credit/non-residential) will be required to conduct a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms and any direct contact with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and instructed not to participate if exposed or feeling ill.=

Tracing

  • When an individual has tested positive for COVID-19, contact tracing identifies anyone who might have been exposed to the infected individual for long enough to have put them at risk of infection.
  • If there is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, the Oneida County Health Department will be contacted immediately. Munson-Williams will have four employees trained in tracing and they will work in conjunction with the OCHD to document and notify anyone with potential exposure.
  • To maintain privacy, anyone who has had contact with a person who has tested positive will only be told that they were exposed to an infection, but the name of the person will not be shared.
  • Tracers will record an extensive travel and contact history from anyone with a positive test.
  • Students, faculty, and staff should be prepared to provide details on close contacts and travel activities.

 

Containment Options

Isolation

  • Students who test positive for COVID-19 will be asked to isolate at home if they live within a 250-mile radius and/or can travel without utilizing public transportation. Otherwise, the student will be placed in an isolation space proved by PrattMWP on a segregated floor of a residence hall, and not allowed to leave the space until cleared by Student Life and the Oneida County Health Department. Designated housing may also be contracted with a local hotel as a residential isolation facility for students.
  • Students in isolation or quarantine will be monitored by the Student Life staff and Nurse and will determine, in conjunction with Oneida County Health Department when a student can be removed from quarantine/isolation.
  • Meals for students placed in quarantine or isolation will be prepared by Bon Appetit and delivered to the student. Other needs, such as medication, laundry, and food delivery will be determined and organized by Student Life.
  • All academic activities will be delivered in a virtual environment to any isolated or quarantined students.
  • Counseling services will be available remotely to students in isolation or quarantine as needed.
  • Students placed in isolation or quarantine will have their ID cards flagged in order to enforce the isolation or quarantine.
  • Any violation of their isolation or quarantine order will be handled through the Office of the Dean or Student Life.
  • Appropriate FERPA/HIPPA compliance measures will be taken to protect the privacy of the students quarantined or housed in the isolation areas.
  • Faculty and staff requiring isolation or quarantining will do so at home.

Quarantine

  • All students who are determined by contact tracing including, but not limited to roommates/suitemates/apartmentmates/classmates must comply with a 14-day self-quarantine.
  • Students who live within a 250-mile radius and can travel home without using public transportation will be asked to quarantine at home. Otherwise, students will quarantine in place in the residence hall room.
  • All students must comply with any full campus shelter in place/pause order issued by the administrator if it is determined that the prevalence of confirmed cases reach a critical level.

Surveillance

  • Students who have tested positive in isolation or are self-monitoring in quarantine will be assessed daily by Student Life staff and/or the Nurse for health and care needs, or if in need of more advanced health services.
  • Other needs, such as medication, laundry, and food delivery will be determined and accommodated by the Student Life staff.

 

B. STUDENT LIFE

Returning to Campus (subject to modification)

  • Resident Assistants will arrive on campus Monday, August 10.
  • Pratt Peer Advisors will arrive on campus Thursday, August 13.
  • Freshmen will arrive on campus on Tuesday, August 18, Wednesday, August 19, or Thursday, August 20.
  • Sophomores will arrive Saturday, August 22, or Sunday, August 23.
  • Students will be assigned check-in times, which will be communicated shortly, and all must comply with move-in schedules and procedures established to provide minimal contact with others and ensure social distancing.
  • Students will not be allowed to arrive early or late to their check-in time, as a health screening and testing will be necessary to enter campus.
  • Only the student and one other person are allowed into the assigned residence hall at check-in.
  • Students should bring a limited amount of belongings at move-in. Students are encouraged to think critically about what they bring when moving into residence halls to allow for efficient and expedient transitions while on campus, at the conclusion of the semester, or in the event of a sudden closure.

 

Students from states and countries with high rates of infection

 

This order means that if you are traveling to New York State from one of these locations, you must quarantine for 14 days prior to interacting with anyone in New York. For students arriving from the affected states, the requirement means that you must self-quarantine for 14 days prior to joining the campus community.

 

PrattMWP is developing solutions to make this possible. Current options include:

1. Students may choose to take all courses virtually for the first semester.

2. Students may choose to self-quarantine for 14 days in a state not restricted by the New York State travel advisory. However, students are advised to review any travel restrictions imposed by the “sheltering” state of their choice.

3. PrattMWP is negotiating a special rate (tbd) for students at the Delta Hotel by Marriott - Utica for discounted 14-day stays. Students would need to arrive on August 17, one week prior to the start of classes, and pay for the first week of food (room service, or other food delivery service, such as Uber Eats and Instacart) and lodging on your own. Students must Self-quarantine for the entire two weeks. PrattMWP will pay for the second week of lodging, and will deliver food to your room during the second week.

  • The Federal Government has issued several Executive Orders that prohibit international travelers from the following countries from entering the United States: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, and Wales.

Orientation

  • The New Student Orientation will utilize a hybrid model of smaller in-person sessions and online modules. Freshmen can expect to begin their orientation on their assigned move-in date, with any in-person sessions beginning after proof of negative test results.
  • Students participating remotely will have a fully virtual orientation.
  • Sophomore students will be required to engage in certain sessions, especially in regards to updated policies.

Travel

  • Students are encouraged to stay on campus--in class, studios, or in their room/suite/apartment--whenever possible, taking only essential trips to grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. Students are encouraged to shop online to avoid unnecessary excursions.
  • Students can begin to send belongings to their campus mailboxes after August 1, 2020.
  • All students are asked to limit all personal travel.
  • Students will be approved to travel for extenuating circumstances (i.e. medical emergency, family death, etc.)
  • The PrattMWP Saturday shuttle bus may operate to limited locations with 50% occupancy. Students are required to wear proper face coverings for the duration of the ride, maintain social distancing away from suitemates, and ride with the vehicle windows open, when possible, to maximize air circulation.
  • Students may travel in the same car with their suitemates. If they choose to travel with others, they should wear proper face coverings, keep windows open to ensure air circulation, social distance as much as possible, and disinfect all surfaces.

Campus Events

  • Upon arrival, the Student Activities and Leadership Coordinator will be working with students to plan for in-person and virtual opportunities to keep the campus engaged.
  • Student clubs and organizations must coordinate with the Student Life Office to ensure they are following protocols regarding meetings and events. Clubs and organizations are encouraged to find virtual means to engage online students.
  • Per New York State guidelines, in-person events are limited to 50 people or fewer and will adhere to social distancing and face covering requirements.
  • The types of events allowed will comply with all New York State guidelines; some activities may be prohibited (i.e, concerts, performances).
  • Approved in-person events will be restricted to PrattMWP community members only, including those involving external speakers and presenters.
  • All events will be limited in attendance to recommended space and distancing protocols.
  • The student organization's faculty/staff advisors must review the policies with the organization’s leadership to compel compliance of social distancing and safety protocols at all in-person events or activities. Whenever possible, advisors or student leaders, trained in PPE and social distancing protocols, should attend events to monitor compliance.
  • Strict adherence to requirements will be enforced, Lack of compliance may result in judicial action or other restrictions.
  • Lack of compliance by faculty and staff will likewise result in appropriate sanctions or disciplinary actions.

 

 C. STUDENT BEHAVIOR

  • The guidance in this policy is intended to supplement all existing PrattMWP student policies, including the PrattMWP Student Handbook, Residence Hall License, and all Campus Safety rules and regulations.
  • Policies in the reopening plan and any further communication with students will be enforced in the same manner as any violation of the Code of Conduct as it appears in the Student Handbook.
  • Student Life will expedite informal meetings and conduct hearings that impact the safety of the PrattMWP community.
  • Student Life will also issue reminders regarding COVID-19 safety measures and government-issued guidelines.

 

D. SHUTDOWN/PAUSE

PrattMWP is working with the medical staff of Bassett Healthcare Network to determine the level of infection that will require the suspension of residential operations. This metric will be added to the policy when available. Isolation spaces on campus are finite, and if a viral outbreak exceeds PrattMWP’s ability to meet the need for isolation, a pause or shutdown may be necessary. Students and families will need a move-out plan in place for a possible emergency move-out in the event of a shutdown.

If all students, staff, and faculty work together to strictly adhere to the safety and health guidelines outlined above, the risk of a campus-wide viral outbreak will be minimized.

In the case of infection on campus, the School will employ the following phased action plans relative to the level of infection rate amongst students.

  • If the administration determines the need to isolate or quarantine one or more students, screening, testing, tracing, and monitoring will be increased and certain students will be retested based on tracking reports. Local health officials will be consulted immediately to determine if the number of infections constitutes the need for additional proactive measures.
  • In the event of five or more positive cases, the administration may scale back operations by instituting a pause of up to 14-days of in-person classes to minimize the possibility of student and faculty infection from prolonged interaction.
  • Additional testing of the student body may be required.
  • During the pause, students will be allowed to leave their rooms with their room/suitemates to dine. Access to labs may be available to limited numbers of students at scheduled times to reduce population density.
  • If testing indicates an increase in infections but the rate remains below the metric that will be established through consultation with Bassett Healthcare, then normal operations will resume at the end of the pause period, with ill students remaining in isolation until cleared.
  • If it is determined by School and health officials after a pause that the spread of the virus may exceed the determined level for containment, then it will be necessary to close the campus and cease residential operations. All classes will move online.
  • Should residential operations cease, students will be notified to make preparations to vacate within 24 hours. The move-out process will mirror students’ move-in procedure with scheduled access to removal of personal belongings from the residence halls and allowing only one person to assist each student. Proper face coverings must be worn at all times during move out.
  • Students and families are encouraged to have a plan in place for a possible emergency move-out in the event of a viral outbreak.
  • Students who may not be able to leave immediately due to travel restrictions will be able to stay on campus until it is safe for them to depart. Students staying on campus may be relocated within the residence halls to increase social distancing.

Students will be updated regularly on the status of a viral outbreak on campus and its effect on the operation of the School and classes through email and School web.