RTS Jackson Fall 2020 COVID Plan

RTS Jackson Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Whether you have been with us throughout the summer or are just now returning to campus for the fall semester, we are delighted to welcome you to campus as we navigate this unprecedented season. While we are excited to resume residential classes this fall, all students, faculty, and staff will need to make adjustments in order to comply with state guidelines and to do our utmost to ensure the safety of the campus.

The following letter contains a detailed explanation of what RTS Jackson has been doing to ensure the safety of the campus in general; the responsibilities that fall to all students, faculty, and staff; specific guidelines for classrooms; and specific guidelines for other areas on campus. Please read this letter in its entirety before coming to campus this fall.

Clean Campus Buildings: All campus buildings have been properly cleaned and disinfected, and all critical building systems have been checked to ensure proper operation. Ongoing cleanings will continue to take place as these facilities are used.

Check and Upgrade (if necessary) HVAC Air Filters to ensure proper air circulation in offices and classrooms.

Provide Personal Protective Equipment: All students, faculty, and staff are asked to bring their own personal protective equipment (including masks) to campus. However, RTS Jackson will do everything in its power to ensure masks, hand sanitizer, and wipes are also available on campus for those who forget to bring theirs. Contact Jim Scott if you are in need of personal protective equipment.

Establish and Enforce Social Distance Occupancy Numbers for Facilities: RTS Jackson has established a max social distance occupancy for all significant places on campus that students and employees will enter and/or congregate. These occupancies will be posted around campus.

Implement Additional Staffing Social-Distancing Protocols: RTS Jackson will continue to implement additional staffing measures to encourage social distancing, including shift staggering, limiting in-person meetings with students and other staff, and eliminating all non-essential business travel. Students are encouraged to limit in-person meetings as well.

Post Signage Around Campus to remind everyone of their obligation to the campus and each other to promote everyday protective measures.

Regularly Wash Hands/Use Hand Sanitizer: All students, faculty, and staff are required to regularly wash their hands or apply hand sanitizer, especially before entering any campus building or classroom. RTS Jackson will do its best to continue to provide hand sanitizer in campus buildings.

Remain Socially Distanced: All students, faculty, and staff are required to remain socially distanced (6 feet from each other) while on campus.

Wear a Mask: It is requested that all students, faculty, and staff bring their own mask from home, as everyone is required to wear a mask while on campus, specifically when in common areas such as hallways, restrooms, classrooms, etc. Individuals are not required to wear masks when isolated on campus. Please contact Jim Scott if you forget to bring a mask, as RTS Jackson will seek to provide them.

Adhere to Exposure/Response Procedures: The following outlines the RTS COVID-19 Exposure Response Plan. If 1) You are exposed to the virus or someone who has it, 2) exhibit symptoms, 3) are tested for the virus, or 4) have tested positive for the virus:

Please immediately inform Jim Scott of any of the events noted above.
If you feel sick or exhibit any virus symptoms (see here for the CDC's list), then please notify Jim Scott and go/stay home.
RTS Jackson will investigate each situation quickly to determine where the individual went on campus and who they had “close contact” with. “Close contact” is defined as being within 6 feet of a person for 15 or more minutes or directly sharing materials with someone, such as office equipment, paper, seating, etc.
After investigation an immediate decision will be made on who should be quarantined based on the CDC guidance.
Any affected areas will be restricted until they can be sufficiently cleaned.
An announcement will be made notifying the affected classes, employees, etc. of the events and decisions thereafter.

With only a couple of course exceptions, RTS Jackson is returning to residential classes this fall. All classrooms being used this semester have been set up to allow for a swift transition to synchronous or online-only formats, should the COVID-19 situation worsen significantly throughout the semester. Because of this preparation, students should feel confident that potential situations of temporary self-quarantine will not impact their ability to complete classes.

Every course will offer students and professors the flexibility to move to Zoom or pre-recorded lecture material for up to 6 weeks (or the equivalent in alternate formats) without the class becoming an official "online" course.

The following policies and procedures are being implemented to ensure the safety of our classrooms:

Only our bigger classroom spaces—DC-1 & DC-2 (at different times), SC-1, BS-2, the chapel, and the student center—will be used for classes.
Occupancy for each classroom will be limited to 25-30% ordinary capacity. This limit will be posted in every classroom. These capacities will directly affect location decisions for each class based on fall enrollment numbers.
Classes will be scheduled such that no building will have two simultaneous classes, and as few classrooms as possible will be used twice in one day.
Doors to classrooms must remain open throughout the duration of the class, and the A/C units will be turned down low to enhance air flow.
Occupants not of the same household must maintain a distance of 6 feet between themselves and other occupants at all times. Chairs and tables will be appropriately spaced for this purpose.
Professors will not be required to wear a face shield while teaching, but they will be required to teach their classes from behind plexiglass shields (attached to the podium/table).
Students must avoid sharing/exchanging writing utensils, papers, etc.
Students are required to clean their workspace after class is over. Cleaning materials will be provided by RTS in each classroom. The housekeeping staff will also clean the classrooms every night.
Students, faculty, staff, or others who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (especially coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell) in the last two weeks are not allowed to come to campus.

Below are the COVID guidelines surrounding the reopening of several major areas on campus.

Library: The Library is open Monday-Thursday, 8am-5pm and Friday 8am-4pm. A maximum of 64 patrons (about 30% capacity) will be allowed inside the library at one time. The additional library measures being taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19 will be posted in the library, and can be viewed here.

Bookstore: The bookstore is open to foot traffic Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. A maximum of 5 customers (about 20% capacity) will be allowed inside the bookstore at one time. The additional bookstore measures being taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19 will be posted in the bookstore, and can be viewed here.

Fitness Center: The weight room and racquetball court are limited to 1 person (about 25% capacity), and the gym is limited to 2 people (about 10% capacity) at a time. Exceptions may be made for couples/families. Included are the electronic sign-up sheets for the weight room, gym, and racquetball court, which contain the additional fitness center measures being taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Student Center: Additional student center measures being taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19, including the max occupancy numbers for each area, will be posted in the student center, and can be viewed here.

Clothes Closet: The Clothes Closet is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, 2pm-4pm. A maximum of 8 people will be allowed inside the Clothes Closet at a time. Additional Clothes Closet measures being taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19 may be viewed here.

Student Activities/Conferences/Chapel: The majority of RTS Jackson-sponsored conferences, student activities, and group meetings will be suspended for the fall semester. This suspension includes weekly chapel services and campus lunches.

However, students are encouraged to continue to find ways to build and maintain fellowship within the campus community, whether that be through outdoor activities like volleyball and disc golf or meeting in small groups that can maintain social distance and remain within limits set by local and state policies.

As we have all learned, the COVID-19 situation is quite fluid, so please remain flexible and know that we will strive by all means to keep you updated regarding campus operations. Also, there may be additional measures that students, faculty, and staff will have to take based on institutional decisions or additional executive orders related to COVID-19.

We will let you know of any changes or updates as we become aware. We must all work together to make our campus community a safe place to work and study.

Please feel free to reach out to Jim Scott with any questions or concerns you may have.

Your friend,

Ligon Duncan
Chancellor & CEO I Reformed Theological Seminary
President I RTS Jackson