A Whole New Back to School

UM students walking

A Whole New Back to School

Following an adaptive and responsive model, the University of Miami takes every step to safeguard the ’Canes community while providing students the opportunity to attend classes on campus amid the ongoing pandemic.
Following an adaptive and responsive model, the University of Miami takes every step to safeguard the ’Canes community while providing students the opportunity to attend classes on campus amid the ongoing pandemic.
by MICHAEL R. MALONE

CHLOE BEACH, A FIRST-YEAR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR FROM AURORA, ILLINOIS, SAT ALONE IN FRONT OF THE DONNA E. SHALALA STUDENT CENTER AFTER FINISHING HER FIRST CLASS OF THE 2020 FALL SEMESTER—ENGLISH 105—IN THE NEW LAKESIDE VILLAGE. The moment for Beach—feeling a mix of first-day elation and jitteriness, savoring being in college, and starting a new adventure in learning at a whole new level—was indeed wondrous. And the fact that she was here at the University of Miami, together with nearly 7,000 other students , starting classes on time and in person for the fall semester—in the midst of the pandemic that has wreaked havoc worldwide and was still surging in South Florida—was itself a small miracle. One made real by extraordinary dedication, colossal effort, and the University’s willingness to prioritize the purpose and value of education.

President Frenk tours campus facilities
President Julio Frenk tours campus facilities being used in new ways to ensure physical distancing.

“The choice before us is not a binary one—keep campus closed or just open it. Instead, we must creatively devise intermediate solutions, which are both adaptive to the current circumstances and responsive to the varying needs of our students,” President Julio Frenk said in a July 15 message to the University community about the decision to bring students back to campus in the fall. He also emphasized that “providing an exceptional educational experience is the why of our decisions.”

The announcement came four months after the University vacated the campus in mid-March to stem the spread of the virus. Throughout the summer, leadership teams went to work across every facility and unit, scrutinizing details to prepare for the safest possible return for students.

Millions of dollars were invested to retrofit classrooms and common areas into safe spaces for teaching, studying, and living. Signs were erected to remind people to protect themselves and those around them by wearing facial coverings and by keeping 6 feet of distance. New technology was purchased and deployed to enhance innovative teaching techniques.

Meanwhile, quarantined in homes around the country and throughout the world, students and faculty members wrestled with decisions on whether to engage in the fall semester through in-person learning, remotely, or through a combination of both, described as hybrid learning. Split nearly evenly, about a third of students chose each mode of learning.

Frenk’s steady hand, founded on 36 years as a global public health expert, guided the path forward. As the University proceeded with its reopening plans, the president was regularly consulted by national media for his insights and strategic thinking. The stakes were high for universities around the country to bring students back, and many were watching for a successful model.

On campus, senior leadership exercised transparency and delivered consistent messaging that emphasized the four pillars—testing, tracing, and tracking; cleaning and disinfecting; protecting personal space, distancing, and the use of face coverings; and vaccinating—while modeling an adaptive and responsive approach to the evolving situation.


covid signage
Signs were erected to remind people to protect themselves and those around them by wearing facial coverings and by keeping 6 feet of distance.

Public Health Ambassadors

Recognizing the effectiveness of peer influence, Patricia A. Whitely, Ed.D. ’94, vice president for student affairs, urged the creation of a student-led team of public health ambassadors to promote and monitor for adherence to COVID-19 health and safety precautions.

More than 270 students submitted applications for the program that, when launched, quickly drew national attention. Andrew Wiemer, director of the Butler Center for Service and Leadership and the program’s organizer, alongside Lindsey Woods, the center’s assistant director, interviewed nearly 120 students and ultimately selected 75 of them—including team leads.

“This new team of student-leaders is the embodiment of our ’Canes Care for ’Canes philosophy,” says Whitely.

Camila Treptow, a biology major pursuing a career in medicine, was among those selected. Her entire family had tested positive for the virus, and she felt a duty to apply to serve.

“Thankfully, we had only mild symptoms, but I knew after my experience that I wanted to do everything possible to stop the spread because I personally know how bad it makes you feel and how easily it spreads,” Treptow says.

New ’Cane Jacques Calixte was also excited to be an ambassador. “I really wanted to do something that would be able to help the community, so applying for this job felt like the best option,” he says.

Sawyer Garrity, a sophomore music therapy major with a minor in psychology and songwriting, was inspired by the chance to do what she could to help.

“I love Miami, and education is really important to me, along with the safety of my peers and professors,” Garrity points out. “I wanted to help keep Miami safe so we could continue to be at the U while taking the measures needed to make sure COVID doesn’t spread.”

 

The Countdown Continues

As June turned into July, the countdown to the new semester grew more visible. Huge white tents were erected on the green in front of the Otto G. Richter Library to add classroom space so students and teachers could learn while maintaining physical distancing. Residential living areas were cleaned and prepared for students.

In advance of students returning, all faculty and staff were directed to complete the We Are One U: COVID-19 Safety Principles training module—developed by diverse experts at the University and UHealth–the University of Miami Health System—which conveyed evidence-based public health guidelines.

New technology tools were introduced that required everyone visiting campus—students, faculty, and staff—to use a daily symptom checker and respond appropriately to its guidance. An online location density monitor began providing updates in real time with reports on capacity at popular locations on campus.

The student government executive board elected in the spring—Abigail Adeleke, president; Shirly Gelman, vice president; and Amanda Rodriguez, treasurer—continued its active engagement with University leadership, serving as a critical liaison to parlay students’ concerns.

“We are in a unique position where we talk directly with people making the decisions,” Gelman says. “I want to make students aware that if they are confused, if they need to ask anything, we are people that they can come to.”


Jacques Calixte
Jacques Calixte, a first-year School of Nursing and Health Studies student, is a public health ambassador on the Coral Gables Campus.

 

I really wanted to do something that would be able
to help the community, so applying to this job felt like the best option

—JACQUES CALIXTE

Move-in Week

The Coral Gables Campus was buzzing Monday, Aug. 11, as hundreds of new ’Canes arrived, eager to move into their residence halls. The process included an additional day for arrivals; staggered, scheduled check-in appointments to prevent crowding; and the requirement to test negative for COVID-19 prior to coming to campus. By mid-week, 1,700 first-year residential students were settled, with returning students moving in later in the week.

The Watsco Center Fieldhouse served as a check-in hub. Students confirmed their pre-arrival COVID-19 test result, and received their ’Cane Card, on-campus housing assignment, and a Safe Return to Campus Kit—which included a face covering, disposable gloves, antibacterial wipes, a hand sanitizer, a thermometer, and more.

Nathaniel Valentine, a first-year student from Brooklyn, New York, was among the first group of students to step onto campus. “It was kind of surreal and bittersweet arriving,” says Valentine, a business major. “I felt good because of how welcoming and homey campus feels and look forward to getting to know my classmates and hopefully having a good time despite this coronavirus thing.”

Eleanor Parks, a first-year musical theatre major, says the welcoming atmosphere helped her adjustment. “I’m really excited about walking around and seeing all that the campus has to offer,” she says.

Parks’ mom, Meredith, was excited to meet President Frenk for the first time, having closely tracked his social media posts regarding the University’s reopening plans.

On Wednesday, Aug. 13, the first students arrived to take up residence in Lakeside Village, the new 12-acre, transformative housing complex on the shores of Lake Osceola.

Many stopped outside the entrance, gazing up at the inspiring six-floored structure before entering to locate their apartment or suite. The impact was unanimous: “Beautiful.” “Gorgeous.” “The architecture is so Miami.” “Amazing.”

“There are so many things in here to see and explore,” says Alexander Miller, a sophomore neuroscience major. “I had a good on-campus living experience last year but am looking forward to apartment living and a more mixed-living experience.”

Natalie Rodas, who will share an apartment with roommates she met while living in Hecht Residential College last year, appreciated Lakeside’s centralized location. “I can be everywhere I need to go within a short walk,” says the sophomore majoring in marketing and finance. “And the view from my room is even better than I expected.”

 

Let the Learning Begin

The first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 17, had all the South Florida look and feel of a start to the University’s fall semester—searing South Florida heat and blazing sun. Candace Sukie, a nursing student from Miramar, Florida, had three classes on campus her first day and was happy to be able to attend in person.

“Everything feels clean and organized, and the campus is really pretty,” Sukie remarks. “I also like how they assigned seats and spaced out the desks so there was no confusion.”

Nouf Behbehani, a first-year student from Kuwait, was excited to begin her environmental engineering studies.

“I really want to become an inventor,” she says. “I hope all the things I can learn this year will benefit me to become an engineer and later an inventor, so I can make a good change in my life and make changes for the environment.”

Donald Henry, a nursing student who hails from Haiti, had a super start to his first college classes. He noted the many safety measures that had been put in place. “Everything—from the bus stop to the classrooms to the cafeteria—was so clean. I believe this was planned out very well.”

UM covid classroom seating

Millions of dollars were invested to retrofit classrooms and common areas into safe spaces for teaching, studying, and living.

UM covid classroom seating
UM classroom with plexiglass

New technology was purchased and deployed to enhance innovative teaching techniques, and classrooms were retrofitted with plexiglass.

UM classroom with plexiglass
Eleanor Parks

First-year student Eleanor Parks—with her mom, Meredith—shows off her ’Cane Card.

Eleanor Parks
Lakeside Village move-in

On Wednesday, Aug. 13, the first students arrived to take up residence in Lakeside Village, the new 12-acre, transformative housing complex on the shores of Lake Osceola.

Lakeside Village move-in
Covid-cafeteria-safety

Campus dining locations adopt new safety measures, including limited seating and enhanced cleaning protocols.

Covid-cafeteria-safety

A First-Quarter Update

On the last day of August, Frenk and Erin Kobetz, vice provost for research and scholarship and professor of public health sciences and responsible for leading the tracking and tracing efforts on campus, offered a candid appraisal of the scenario on campus.

Both agreed that the trends were positive, and both heartily urged that vigilance continue and that accurate data remains indispensable to navigating the way forward.

“Our priority is to keep the community safe, and it’s very early in the semester. But what we’re seeing indicates that our plan is working,” Kobetz states. “We’re pleased by students’ willingness to accept these new norms while also encouraging one another to adopt and maintain them.”

On Sept. 11, the day after the ’Canes football team played its first game of the year—another formerly unthinkable feat—Frenk offered a “first-quarter update” on progress, praising the collective effort. He noted that “the trends both on campus and in the community so far continue to be encouraging,” but cautioned that most experts expect an increase in cases in the fall.

“So we must redouble our efforts to make sure we all remain healthy and can successfully complete the semester,” he says.

—Ashley A. Williams, Janette Neuwahl Tannen, and Amanda M. Perez contributed to this article.

President Frenk and student