Reporting by Olivia Bowman, Christian Trujano and Bryanna Bartlett
In a campuswide email Monday, San Jose State President Mary Papazian announced the SJSU Adapt plan for Fall 2020, a roadmap for how the university plans to reopen while aligning with the health orders of Santa Clara County and California Department of Public Health Departments. SJSU is currently in “Phase 2: Modified Campus” of the plan. As of Monday, the Athletics section of the plan is currently under review and will be released when available.
Campus facilities and spaces
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Maximum capacities will be posted to meet physical distancing and public health guidelines
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Work spaces will have at least six feet of physical distance and where that is not possible, plastic barriers will be installed
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At customer service areas and central stores pass through windows will help prevent the spread of airborne droplets
Outdoor pedestrian traffic lanes and walkways
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Pedestrian traffic patterns will be created in hallways, stairways, elevators and outdoor walkways where it is impossible to maintain six feet of distance
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Skateboards, scooters and bikes will be prohibited on SJSU campus and South Campus
Face coverings/masks, gloves and sanitizing supplies
Face coverings or masks must be:
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Worn by all students, faculty, and staff on campus at all times when indoors, except when alone in a private office with the door closed.
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Worn when outside and it is difficult to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from others.
Masks, gloves and hand sanitizer and will be available to returning students, faculty, and staff at:
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Facilities Development & Operations building (intersection of San Fernando and 9th Street, across from the North Garage)
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Parking Offices in the 7th Street Garage.
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Student Wellness Center
Face coverings/masks will also be available on SJSU buses coming from South Campus Parking when shuttle service resumes at a later date.
Meetings, Gatherings and Special Events
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All indoor meetings and gatherings are prohibited per Santa Clara County’s public health order that went into effect July 13, 2020
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Outdoor gatherings of up to 60 people are allowed but must be approved by Facilities Development & Operations and must follow physical distancing guidelines, capacity limits, and consistent use of face coverings
Student life and services
The Diaz Compean Student Union may be partially open in consideration of public health guidelines. Some Student Union facilities may be considered as an option for enhanced classroom space to allow for appropriate physical distancing.
The Spartan Food Pantry will be open in a limited capacity, with hours posted on their Instagram page. Weeks of Welcome Convocation, Parent/Family Weekend and other major events will move to virtual formats until Phase 3 or Phase 4.
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The Student Wellness Center will be physically open 2 or 3 days per week with telehealth available every weekday.
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Counseling and Psychological Services remains fully remote, offering telecounseling 5 days a week.
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Staff from the Accessible Education Center, Bursar’s and Registrar’s offices will come to campus as needed.
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Any services provided on campus will require a permit and incorporate required public health directives.
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SJSU has also suspended a meal plan rate increase. Meal plan rates will remain the same as the 2019-2020 academic year.
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The Dining Commons will offer meals served to-go, and there will be limited or no seating based on county public health guidelines.
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Spartan Eats will offer use of the BOOST! App to order food items with a delivery option.
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The Village Market will have limited capacity and serve to-go hot food, snacks and beverages.
Campus fees
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Campus fees will not be refunded even though students may not be on campus because the campus continues to remain open and essential services continue to function
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The cost of building the Student Union and the SRAC, which are still open, are being repaid by Student Union and Student Health Facility fee revenues that are not “usage-based fees”
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Rather than fee reductions, the federal CARES aid will provide students with some relief. SJSU is developing plans for additional federal CARES support.
Teaching and learning
SJSU is adhering to an in-person and online course offering planned for the fall semester. In the case where a course being offered face-to-face or hybrid is essential for a student to graduate in fall, SJSU will try to provide access to various face-to-face experiences through accommodations like distributed lab experiences, alternative assignments and/or video access to face-to-face course experience. SJSU may make substitutions for core requirements in consultation with faculty.
Under phase two:
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All teaching remains remote, including lectures, labs, studios, one-on-one independent study and research courses.
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Potential for a limited number of supervision courses for undergraduate and graduate students related to faculty research and creative activities. Each of these activities must be approved by college leadership and the Office of the Provost.
University housing services
Students, faculty and staff living in residence halls are encouraged to return to their permanent residence or move to a safe off-campus location. Whoever needs to remain or does not have a safe alternative, will be provided with housing and dining services.
SJSU suspended the Freshman Live-On requirement for the 2020-2021 academic year. For those that do want to live on campus, the initial payment for housing is $300. Students who have paid the original initial $600 payment will have the remaining $300 applied as a credit towards the housing payment due in July.
In addition, SJSU has suspended room rate increases approved earlier this semester. The housing fees for all room types will remain the same as the 2019-2020 academic year.
First-year students enrolled in face-to-face classes in the fall will have priority in getting rooms. Former foster youth and students in the Guardian Scholars program, student-athletes, students who are housing insecure, international students and students from outside the San Jose area will also be permitted to live on campus.
The Fall 2020 University Housing plan includes:
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Housing 2,100-2,500 students—approximately 50-60% of the normal resident population—with one student per room where possible.
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Residents must wear face coverings at all times in the residential facilities, except when in their own room/apartment.
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Residents will pay the rate for the room type requested on their application, and those who requested a double or triple room may be assigned an additional roommate once public health guidelines are updated.
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Residents will not be able to check out equipment, including vacuums and recreation equipment, and a limited number of students will be permitted in building elevators at any time.
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Common area spaces including lounges, communal kitchens, study and tv rooms and recreational areas will be closed.
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Students can only cancel their meal plans if they are also cancelling their housing contracts.
Student quarantine protocol
For students who test positive to COVID-19 or become exposed, the housing plan includes a tiered approach to relocate students as needed from their current residence.
Tier I: The student has their own room and remains in their current space
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Housing will arrange for daily meal delivery to the student.
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Cleaning supplies will be provided to students.
Tier II: The student is relocated to another location on campus
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Six efficiency units and two four-bedroom apartments have been designated for those who have been exposed or tested positive for COVID-19. All units include private bathrooms. The apartments include a full kitchen and efficiency units, a microwave and small refrigerator. Campus housing will coordinate with our food service vendor to arrange for meal service as needed.;
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120 rooms have been designated on three floors in one of our traditional halls. Each student will be assigned to their own room. Each floor has two to four shared bathroom and shower areas. The bathroom and shower areas will receive additional cleaning from our custodial staff.
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Housing will arrange for daily meal delivery to students.
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Additional cleaning supplies will be provided to students as well
Tier III: If additional quarantine spaces are needed, the campus will work with area hotels to reserve single occupancy rooms
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Housing will work with hotel management to ensure meals are provided to the students.
Once students clear the 14 day period and show no symptoms, they can return to their original apartment or be provided a new permanent space. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 will need to test negative before being permitted to return to a permanent space.
To find free testing sites in San Jose, visit the County of Santa Clara’s Instagram page.
