Classes will begin as scheduled on Monday, August 31.
In-person instruction will conclude before the Thanksgiving holiday and the final three weeks of the fall semester (including final exams) will be held exclusively online.
Fall recess is canceled.
A number of virtual orientation sessions for first-year and transfer students will be held in July and August.
August move-in will include density controls such as assigned move-in times, guest restrictions, and face covering requirements.
Students will be provided with detailed move-in information, housing assignments, and a phased move-in plan in mid-July.
All general-purpose classrooms and shared spaces will utilize new seating plans to facilitate proper social distancing for instructors and students while they are seated. Classrooms and shared spaces with built-in furniture will be properly marked to prevent seating that does not comply with social distancing guidelines.
The college intends to prioritize on-campus instruction for courses, labs, studios, and practicums where in-person interactions and hands-on experiences are critical to student learning.
Core and signature experience courses will also be targeted and prioritized for in-person instruction, while other classes may be offered in a true hybrid format—online with supplemental in-person instruction in smaller groups.
Many classes that can be effectively delivered 100 percent online will remain remote to help reduce density on campus.
Masks
Throughout the fall semester and until further notice, all members of the campus community will be required to wear face coverings or masks when adequate physical distancing is not feasible.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Social Distancing
Indoor common areas—including performance spaces, reservable spaces on campus and residential common spaces—will contain signage with instruction regarding traffic patterns, wearing masks, reducing density, and social distancing.
Screening and Testing
Buffalo State is developing a comprehensive testing strategy for students and is supporting campus testing with system-level procurement of testing supplies as needed.
Two weeks prior to arrival or the start of the semester, students will be expected to complete an online questionnaire relating to symptoms and possible exposure to COVID-19. All students will be required to respond before returning to campus.
No one should be allowed on campus who is symptomatic or who answers yes to any of the questions on the online questionnaire/app. Students will be asked to complete a health monitoring survey and perform temperature checks daily or at any time they feel febrile. Students in isolation or quarantine will be given daily appointments to speak with a health services nurse or clinician by phone, to review health and temperature survey responses.
The Weigel Health Center will conduct contact tracing for any student who tests positive and quarantine that individual. After arrival, and throughout the semester, the health center will continue use of a daily symptom survey, and students will be required to call the health center about any positive screening questions with guidance from the Erie County Health Department.
Information about online tools for daily symptom monitoring will be shared later this summer.
Vulnerable Populations
Students who report health, safety, or child care concerns when considering returning to a face-to-face classroom will be referred to, and assisted by the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students will assist with contacting the appropriate departments to address student concerns on a one-to-one basis. Students with accessibility concerns will continue to be accommodated on a case-by-case basis by Student Accessibility Services Office.
The campus has available for students, at a reduced rate, child care resources if this is of primary concern.
Call University Police at (716) 878-6333 for any emergency situations.
Buffalo State shuttle service is running. The college requires transportation providers to operate in accordance with the interim guidance for public transportation activities during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The guidance requires:
Indoor common areas—including performance spaces, reservable spaces on campus and residential common spaces—will contain signage with instruction regarding traffic patterns, wearing masks, reducing density, and social distancing.
Residence Halls
Resident students are being given the option to request a single room for the fall 2020 semester. They will have until early July to request a single room; otherwise, they will be assigned a roommate.
Students will be provided with detailed move-in information. August move-in will include density controls such as assigned move-in times, guest restrictions and face covering requirements.
We are updating our residential license to more specifically address wearing of masks and social gathering policies (e.g. social gatherings will be limited to 25 residents/staff, assessed according to space size. Capacity signs will be posted throughout common areas.)
Residential students will be allowed to visit other residence halls as described in existing guest policies. Non-residents and non-students will not be allowed inside the residence halls for this academic year. Students with conditions will be assisted by Student Accessibility Services in accessing residential accommodations.
Dining
The following safety practices will be employed for dining services:
Information about move-in, room assignments, and move-out can be found on the Residence Halls & Dining FAQ page.
Activities reserved through the Events Management Office, athletics, and activities in performance spaces and the Student Union will be conducted using density reduction—based on the capacity of the room—of no more than 50 percent of the original capacity.
Student groups that reserve space for an event will review a document regarding policies pertaining to social distancing, mask wearing and health practices. Student groups will be encouraged to host virtual events.
Building staff will monitor spaces, reconfigure spaces, and evaluate traffic patterns for all reservable spaces. Student performances must be approved by the appropriate President’s Cabinet member in advance of the performance. Social distancing must be employed, along with limited audience capacity based on density reduction guidelines.
Buffalo State College will host its Commencement Ceremonies for the class of 2020 virtually on September 26, 2020.
The Keep Learning website is your one-stop shop for the remote instruction learning tools that Buffalo State provides and some ideas for internet access and information about software options.
Stay connected at Buffalo State! Ask questions and find answers about common technology questions:
Visit: itportal.buffalostate.edu
Call: (716) 878-HELP (4357)
Email: ithelpdesk@buffalostate.edu
