Fall 2020: Plan for a Safe and Healthy Campus

To demonstrate our care for each other, all students, faculty and staff were required to sign a BW BE SAFE Pledge affirming our commitment to following protocols and supporting each other.
Preview the pledge >

• The undergraduate 16-week semester calendar has been adjusted. The first day of classes was August 24, with in-person classes ending by Thanksgiving and the final week of classes and exams conducted remotely. View fall 2020 academic calendar and final exam schedule.
• The graduate student academic schedule remains unchanged.
• Classes will be held on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.
• Classes will not be held on Wednesday, October 14, for fall break. The exceptions are Minimester-A classes, once-a-week Wednesday classes and graduate classes, which will meet on October 14 as scheduled.

• All classes employ blended instruction that includes in-person and synchronous remote instruction. Synchronous remote instruction means you are attending a live class remotely (such as from your dorm room, home or other location), allowing for interaction and participation in class activity. Your class schedule reflects these changes.
• Most classroom locations have appropriate space to meet fully in person while maintaining 6-foot distancing and wearing masks. However, some classes have been divided into smaller groups, with each group attending in-person one-day a week and via synchronous remote instruction the remainder of the week.

• BW de-densified residential spaces to provide housing. Residential students have been notified about precautions.
• COVID-19 planning included identifying self-isolation and quarantine locations for our residential community in the event of positive cases on campus.
• COVID-19 protocol signage has been posted throughout campus and includes notification on maximum occupancy, changes in traffic flow, physical distancing and specific requirements for academic spaces.
• Plexiglass barriers and other modifications have been installed on campus to assist with safety.
• Many traditionally in-person functions are now available online.
• Altogether, the physical changes on campus will assist in making a safer environment.

The fall plan is continually evolving, and some of our approaches may change as new information becomes available. We recommend that you return often to check for updates.

• Thankful for the BW community - November 24, 2020
• Important update for BW students - November 12, 2020
• COVID-19 campus update - November 6, 2020
• Happy Halloween - October 30, 2020
• Mid-semester Health Updates - October 8, 2020
• BW announces Spring 2021 Semester Calendar - September 28, 2020
• Meet BW's Health Team - September 25, 2020
• Getting involved at BW - September 18, 2020
• BW Expands Health Care Programs and Facilities - September 11, 2020
• Information about COVID-19 exposure off campus - September 4, 2020
• Week one, well done. - August 28, 2020
• Preliminary Results of Arrival Testing Program - August 26, 2020
• Welcome Back to BW - August 20, 2020
• Important info about the Daily Health Check-in and arrival testing - August 13, 2020
• Can you picture the first day on campus? - August 6, 2020
• Educating ourselves about COVID-19 - July 30, 2020
• Campus preparedness update - July 23, 2020
• Important information for student arrival on campus - July 15, 2020
• Preparing for our students' return to campus - July 2, 2020

Check-in is as simple as answering one question about your daily symptoms. If you are experiencing no symptoms, you will receive a green GO, and you can start your day. If you are experiencing any of the less commonly associated symptoms of COVID-19, you may receive a yellow CAUTION sign to monitor your health more diligently during the day or, in some cases, seek guidance from the BW Health Center. If you are experiencing any of the most common symptoms associated with COVID-19, including a temperature over 100° F, then you will receive a red STOP sign and be directed to the BW Health Center and not to report to class or campus employment.

What if I have symptoms caused by other health conditions?
If you have symptoms that are common for you and/or associated with other conditions (like asthma, chronic sinus issues, allergies, etc.), you would choose the middle CAUTION option and be given two choices in the response from the app:

(1) If your symptoms are unusual for you, STOP and do not go to class or attend campus events. Seek medical guidance.

(2) If your symptoms are common or usual symptoms for you, GO to class or attend campus events but continue to monitor symptoms for any changes.

You can download the app for your smartphone now and begin using it wherever you are. BW's Daily Health Check-in is powered by RAVE Guardian, a trusted partner that assists BW with emergency communications. You can download the free app to your smartphone here:

• Apple App Store (iPhone Users)
• Google Play Store (Android Users)

Simply follow the instructions for installing the app and complete the registration process. Be sure notifications are allowed for the Guardian app so you will receive a daily prompt to complete your BW Daily Health Check-In. If you need assistance, please contact the BW IT Help desk at (440) 826-7000.

You will also receive an email in your @bw.edu email inbox. Email will serve as a backup should you lose your phone, run out of battery power or not have a smartphone. You can only take the daily check-in once per day either through the app or email.

BW Daily Health Check-in is part of our overall strategy to control the spread of the virus in the BW community and promotes personal responsibility. Thank you for doing your part by downloading and regularly using this app.

All residential students were required to complete an arrival COVID-19 test. BW also identified groups to strategically test upon their arrival to campus that are at a higher risk of disease spread including: Conservatory students, theatre and dance students, student-athletes, international students and students with permanent addresses in hot-spot states as determined by the State of Ohio.

The test used was an FDA EUA-approved saliva-based PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test and included symptom screening administered by BW health professionals on the BW campus. Students were notified of results within 48 to 72 hours through a secure communication provided by our official test partner, VAULT HEALTH. Students are asked to continue to monitor their health and proceed with campus activity as they wait for their results.

Arrival testing for the groups of students listed above took place August 19-23 during move-in and Week of Welcome. Arrival testing was also available, by appointment at the BW Health Center, during the first two days of class (Aug. 24-25). All COVID-19 testing on campus is free of charge.

Approximately 1,600 individuals were tested prior to or at the start of the semester, as outlined above, in an effort to deter outbreaks.

Surveillance tests for asymptomatic individuals will be deployed by the university to monitor the general health of the BW community. Surveillance testing will entail periodic, random tests of samples of BW students, faculty and staff. (Surveillance testing will not be open for individual requests). Again, all COVID-19 testing on campus is free of charge. Please check your BW email regularly for additional messages about our surveillance testing program.

In the event an individual has tested positive for COVID-19, a team of BW employees has completed contact tracing certification to help identify and notify individuals that have had close contact during the time frame that the positive individual may have been infectious. This team will work closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the Ohio Department of Health.

During the semester, the University will provide weekly updates reporting the number of confirmed positive cases on campus and the number of confirmed recovered cases on campus. This information, along with updates to all BW’s preparedness information, can be found at bw.edu/fall2020.