While it is our desire to return to a vibrant in-person campus community, enforcing physical distancing and de-densifying campus are the most important actions we can take to best manage the COVID-19 crisis at this point in time.
Facilities Access
- Access to campus spaces will be restricted to the those within the SSU community throughout the pandemic. In preparation for our physical return to campus, all administrative and academic units who have been approved by the ERT to be on campus have a Departmental COVID Control Plan.
- Offices and workstations may be reconfigured where necessary to ensure appropriate physical distancing among employees and office guests. Office appointments and meetings should be conducted virtually whenever possible or by appointment. The number of classrooms, offices and shared spaces that will be available on campus have been reduced in an effort to focus Facilities’ resources for cleaning and sanitation of populated spaces.
- Spaces that will be open for use will have a new maximum capacity limit displayed near the entrance. This limit takes into account the amount of space needed to allow for proper physical distancing (approximately 48 square feet per person).
- Classrooms and offices that are not in use will be marked “closed” and should not be used.
- All classes, activities and meetings will need to be scheduled and follow the departmental approval process before a space is used. Whether a community member is on campus or not, all meetings should be conducted on a virtual platform for the foreseeable future to prevent potential exposure. If that is not possible, in-person meetings must be conducted in a location where physical distancing is achievable, and attendees must wear masks.
- Common spaces such as shared kitchens and lounges will be closed until further notice. Dining facilities will have limited capacity, adhering to the guidance and restrictions of the Commonwealth that are similar to policies around restaurants.
Conference and Event Space
All meeting and event spaces throughout campus will be restricted to approved bookings and will follow protocols that adhere to federal and state guidelines. Similar to classrooms, room capacities have been changed to accommodate appropriate physical distancing.
Sanitization and Disinfection
Facilities will utilize the Department COVID Control plans of each division and department to determine which areas of campus are in use and in need of cleaning. Staff is trained on these sanitizing protocols and will adhere to strict PPE guidelines, including wearing masks and frequent glove changes and hand sanitizing between cleaning different areas of campus.
Facilities will also be using Environmental Protection Agency approved disinfectants for cleaning. Facilities is utilizing Permasafe™ on surfaces in high-traffic areas. Permasafe™ is a spray on product that forms a barrier on surfaces which kills 99.9 percent of germs. One application can last for several months, and facilities will apply the product to surfaces at the start of each semester. More information about the facilities cleaning protocols is available here.
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls involve isolating employees from work-related hazards. In workplaces where they are appropriate, these controls reduce exposure to hazards without relying on employee behavior. Engineering controls for COVID-19 include installing high-efficiency air filters, modification of HVAC systems, and design to increase ventilation rates in the work environment.