SAFE ON CAMPUS: A FRAMEWORK FOR REOPENING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS HIGHER EDUCATION WORKING GROUP TO THE GOVERNOR’S REOPENING ADVISORY BOARD MAY 22, 2020 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 1 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Higher Education Working Group Laurie Leshin, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, member of the Governor’s Reopening Advisory Board Robert Brown, President, Boston University Nicholas Covino, President, William James College Javier Cevallos, President, Framingham State University Mary-Beth Cooper, President, Springfield College Helen Drinan, President, Simmons University Patricia Gentile, President, North Shore Community College Deborah Jackson, President, Cambridge College Paula Johnson, President, Wellesley College Richard Lapidus, President, Fitchburg State University Marty Meehan, President, University of Massachusetts Anthony Monaco, President, Tufts University Paula Rooney, President, Dean College Yves Salomon-Fernandez, President, Greenfield Community College Staff: David Bunis, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Linette Decarie, Assistant VP, AS&IR, Boston University Richard Doherty, President, AICUM Rob McCarron, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, AICUM Ann Reale, Undersecretary & COO, Executive Office of Education Jessica Sharkness, Director, Institutional Research, Tufts University 2 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Agenda ◦ Four Critical Topics ◦ Higher Education is Critically Important to the Massachusetts Economy ◦ Guiding Principles for Safely Reopening Colleges and Universities ◦ The Current State of Higher Education in Massachusetts ◦ Framework: Safely Reopening Colleges and Universities Using a Phased Approach ◦ Five Ways the Commonwealth Can Assist Higher Education 3 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Four Critical Topics ◦ Phase 1: Repopulation of Research Labs and Clinical Education & Services ◦ Testing Protocols and Availability ◦ Residence Hall Safety ◦ Timing of Announcements About Fall 2020 4 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Higher Education is Critically Important to the Massachusetts Economy $24.5 Billion Annual Institutional Expenditures 136,000 Total Employees including 58,000 Faculty and Research + 77,000 500,000 Students Enrolled at 106 Institutions $10B Salaries Paid to Higher Ed Employees $4.1 Billion Federal & Sponsored Research Staff 5 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Guiding Principles for Safely Reopening Colleges and Universities ◦ Protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and people in surrounding communities ◦ Enable students to make meaningful progress towards their educational goals ◦ Contribute to research and innovation ◦ Minimize adverse economic impact on families, employees and the Massachusetts economy 6 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 The Current State of Higher Education in the Commonwealth We are OPEN: Teaching, learning, student support services, essential research, and health services continue at all institutions. Most campus-based activities are supported remotely: ◦ Courses: Delivered remotely where possible ◦ Research: Working remotely, except some COVID-19 research ◦ Residence Halls: Occupied by very few who live permanently on campus or who can’t return home ◦ Dining Services: Limited services to the few remaining students ◦ Athletics: Cancelled ◦ Intensive virtual recruitment strategies have been implemented to secure Fall 2020 new student enrollment 7 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Key Considerations for Higher Education We are DIVERSE: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Public/Private Residential/Commuter Urban/Rural Highly diverse student backgrounds Large endowments/Tuition-dependent Many campuses are like small cities: mostly self-sufficient environments with offices, labs, residences and dining options, health care facilities, etc. Recommendation: Higher Ed is not a one-size-fits-all industry. Leveraging this framework and federal, state and local guidance, campuses will need to make their own tailored plans for safe operations in the face of COVID-19 8 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Key Considerations for Higher Education While there are vulnerable people on our campuses, much of the population on college campuses is under age 30 and at significantly lower risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 Source: MA State COVID-19 Dashboard, May 11, 2019 9 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Framework for Safely Reopening Colleges and Universities Using a Phased Approach Phase 1: Start • Repopulate Research Labs, Medical, Dental, Veterinary & Allied Health Clinical Education and Services • Repopulate Limited Functions Necessary for Students to Return Phase 2: Cautious • Relaunch/Pilot Limited Student Programming on Campus Phase 3: Vigilant • Opening: Carefully Repopulate Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Classrooms Phase 4: New Normal • New Normal Operations on College and University Campuses 10 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 1: Start Repopulate Research Labs, Medical, Dental, Veterinary & Allied Health Clinical Education and Services Key Enablers: ◦ Modification of the ban on non-essential business ◦ Each institution prepares a comprehensive research laboratory and clinical education and services reopening plan 11 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 1: Start Repopulate Research Labs, Medical, Dental, Veterinary & Allied Health Clinical Education and Services High confidence of safe research laboratory repopulating based on: ◦ Strict control of lab density and PPE compliance ◦ Expertise using PPE and managing lab exposure risks High confidence of safe clinical education and services repopulating based on: ◦ Strict control of clinical area density depending on treatment modalities and other factors unique to each clinical service ◦ Protocols for point of care testing of patients/clients and clinical students, staff and faculty interfacing with patients ◦ Protocols for use of PPE and other unique clinical protections needed for both patients, clients and health-care providers unique to each service 12 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 1: Start Repopulate Limited Functions Necessary for Students to Return § In compliance with state protocols and guidance, return small numbers of staff to on-site work as-needed to support ramp up of campus operations and activities that cannot be supported remotely § Support phased move out of student belongings remaining from Spring 2020 § Special attention to at-risk faculty and staff as we repopulate 13 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 2: Cautious Relaunch/Pilot Limited Student Programming on Campus Key Enablers: ◦ Applicable public health criteria are satisfied to move to Phase 2 ◦ Adequate supply of tests and PPE sufficient for small numbers of individuals to participate in on-campus programs ◦ Preparation by each institution of an institution-specific plan detailing how physical distancing could feasibly be accomplished for specific proposed activities Examples of Limited Programming: ◦ Small campus-based programs that would typically take place over the summer (e.g. summer bridge programs) ◦ Students in career technical education programs who could not complete degree/credential requirements in the Spring semester can safely return to low density labs, studios and shops on campus ◦ Reopening of housing, dining and classroom spaces, on a small scale, to accommodate limited participation 14 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 3: Vigilant • Opening: Carefully Repopulate Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Classrooms Key Enablers: ◦ Applicable public health criteria are satisfied to move to Phase 3 ◦ Testing, tracing and isolation protocols in place ◦ Adequate testing, PPE and cleaning supplies are available to meet protocols ◦ Each institution prepares a comprehensive reopening plan which includes protocols for symptom monitoring, social distancing, use of masks, isolation and quarantine space availability, and contact tracing ◦ Families, faculty and staff feel confident that campus will be safe 15 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 3: Vigilant • Opening: Carefully Repopulate Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Classrooms Higher Education Testing Working Group Paula Johnson, MD, President of Wellesley College, is chairing a testing working group that will develop recommendations for testing protocols for colleges and universities: ◦ Access to testing across higher education is critical to repopulation of campuses ◦ The science and technology is rapidly evolving, so plans must be flexible ◦ The expectation is that large numbers of tests will be needed for the higher education community ◦ Contact tracing and quarantine and isolation protocols must be developed in conjunction with testing protocols 16 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 3: Vigilant • Opening: Carefully Repopulate Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Classrooms Residence Halls/Shared Living Arrangements Considerations ◦ Protocols for shared living arrangements will vary widely based on site-specific conditions ◦ Monitor social distancing and mask wearing outside of bedrooms ◦ Multiple options for managing risks associated with shared restrooms ◦ Determine criteria for students with co-morbidities and for students returning from other states and countries Wide range of flexible strategies being considered to protect students from infection and from mental health problems, including: ◦ Organizing students into residential family-like “households” ◦ Clustering students with shared courses to minimize contacts ◦ Consider lower occupancy where capacity will allow ◦ Residential strategies intersect with testing/tracing/quarantine protocols 17 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 3: Vigilant • Opening: Carefully Repopulate Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Classrooms Classrooms/Education Spaces Dining Services ◦ Reorganize spaces to accommodate necessary physical distancing ◦ Follow de-densifying guidance, similar to restaurants ◦ Smaller classes moved to larger spaces ◦ Partner with national food service providers on campus-specific protocols ◦ Likely result is a mix of in-person and remote learning ◦ Use shifts and/or dedicate other spaces for dining as needed ◦ Meals to go/Meals in a box 18 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Phase 4: New Normal New Normal Operations on College and University Campuses Key Enablers: ◦ Public confidence that the crisis is over ◦ Vaccine or other medical treatment is widely available ◦ Herd Immunity is achieved 19 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Five Ways the Commonwealth Can Assist Higher Education 1. The Governor should call on each college and university to develop reopening plans for their own campuses. At a minimum, these plans should include: ◦ A plan for a phased repopulation of the campus. ◦ A plan for monitoring health conditions to ensure detection of infection. ◦ A plan for containment to prevent the spread of the disease if detected. ◦ A plan for scaling back operations if necessary. 20 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Five Ways the Commonwealth Can Assist Higher Education 2. The Commonwealth should partner with colleges and universities to provide assistance with procurement of testing, PPE, and cleaning supplies, and with technical assistance for the implementation of contact tracing programs. 3. Through legislation or Executive Order, the Commonwealth should continue to require MA health insurers to cover testing costs that are not paid by the federal government. 4. The Commonwealth should continue to coordinate with licensing and regulatory agencies to enable professional licensure and certification in accordance with public health guidance. 5. The Commonwealth should provide a safe harbor from liability for those institutions that prepare comprehensive reopening plans consistent with State guidance. 21 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Readiness to Reopen Survey of Presidents College presidents report very high confidence in their ability to put in place policies and procedures by the fall that cover: Education of campus communities about safety expectations and procedures (99%) Enacting additional protection measures for at-risk community members (e.g., over age 60, those with underlying conditions) (93%) Sanitization of common spaces on campus (91%) Ensuring safe physical workspaces for staff and faculty who need to work on campus (91%) 22 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Readiness to Reopen Survey of Presidents College presidents report high confidence in their ability to put in place policies and procedures by the fall that cover: Setting aside or procuring space to allow for the isolation and quarantine of students who are suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus (81%*) De-densifying classrooms (81%) Re-allocating housing so that no more than two students are assigned to one dormitory bedroom (i.e. “de-tripling”) (89%*) *Asked only of residential schools. Note that “de-tripling” is not necessarily the approach all will take. 23 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Readiness to Reopen Survey of Presidents College presidents report the least confidence in their ability to put in place policies and procedures by the fall that cover: Contact tracing (in consultation with state and local health officials) • 72% “Very” or “Somewhat confident” • 13% “Not confident at all” Testing protocols and procedures to screen all students, faculty and staff who are returning to campus • 59% “Very” or “Somewhat confident” • 15% “Not confident at all” 24 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Key Decision Points for Higher Education ◦ Repopulate research and clinical activities as soon as possible ◦ These can ramp up quickly (days to weeks) with high confidence they be done safely ◦ Most institutions don’t need to announce decisions for Fall until ~July 1 ◦ This gives time for creation of tailored campus plans and allows testing protocols to be responsive to latest science How much time do you need to ramp up before your campus can open in the Fall? 46% 42% 36% 12% 4 weeks or fewer 5-6 weeks 6 weeks More than 6 weeks What is the latest date that you would publicly communicate your plans for the Fall? June 15 or sooner 24% July 1 43% July 15 or later Already announced 29% 3% 25 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 The 106 Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts American International College Amherst College Anna Maria College Assumption College Babson College Bard College at Simon's Rock Bay Path University Becker College Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology Bentley University Berklee College of Music Berkshire Community College Boston Architectural College Boston Baptist College Boston College Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc Boston University Brandeis University Bridgewater State University Bristol Community College Bunker Hill Community College Cambridge College Cape Cod Community College Clark University College of Our Lady of the Elms College of the Holy Cross Conway School of Landscape Design Curry College Dean College Eastern Nazarene College Emerson College Emmanuel College Endicott College Fisher College Fitchburg State University Framingham State University Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Gordon College Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Greenfield Community College Hampshire College Harvard University Hebrew College Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Holyoke Community College Hult International Business School Laboure College Lasell College Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Lesley University Longy School of Music of Bard College Massachusetts Bay Community College Massachusetts College of Art and Design Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Maritime Academy Massachusetts School of Law Massasoit Community College MCPHS University Merrimack College MGH Institute of Health Professions Middlesex Community College Montserrat College of Art Mount Holyoke College Mount Wachusett Community College New England College of Optometry New England Law-Boston Nichols College North Bennet Street School North Shore Community College Northeastern University Northern Essex Community College Northpoint Bible College Pine Manor College Pope St John XXIII National Seminary Quincy College Quinsigamond Community College Regis College Roxbury Community College Saint John's Seminary Salem State University Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing Simmons University Smith College Springfield College Springfield Technical Community College Stonehill College Suffolk University The New England Conservatory of Music Tufts University University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester University of Massachusetts-Amherst University of Massachusetts-Boston University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Urban College of Boston Wellesley College Wentworth Institute of Technology Western New England University Westfield State University Wheaton College William James College Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester State University 26 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 PM 5/27/20 Backup: Background on Survey Results ◦ Survey of College Presidents conducted 5/4/20 – 5/6/20 ◦ 87 public and private institutions were surveyed; 86 responded ◦ The question posed was, “Assuming a sufficient supply of testing and PPE, how confident are you that your institution can do the following by early fall?” ◦ Respondents were given 4 possible answers to the questions: Very Confident, Somewhat Confident, Not Very Confident, and Not Confident at All ◦ Percentages shown on Slides 22 and 23 are for those who answered Very Confident or Somewhat Confident 27