#StayingSTRONG

By Villia Struyk

Masks. Social distancing. Outdoor classrooms. COVID-19 continues to reshape every aspect of higher education — but Southern is meeting the historically unprecedented challenges head-on.

THE MONUMENTAL CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 CONTINUE, but a glimmer of light has appeared at the end of the tunnel. Students were welcomed back for the spring semester on Jan. 26 — albeit remotely — and campus was open for business the following week, on Feb. 3, for those opting for in-person courses and services. As in the fall, courses are being offered in a variety of formats: 62 percent are entirely online and 38 percent are in-person or a hybrid. And with prevention of a potential virus surge in mind, Southern, like many colleges and universities in the U.S., eliminated spring break.

The semester builds on prior successes. The university met its operating goal for fall 2020, offering on-campus and remote learning until the Thanksgiving holiday, then making a planned-for switch to entirely online education/student services. In contrast, “scores of colleges and universities” throughout the nation scrambled, significantly altering plans throughout the fall in response to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, according to Inside Higher Ed.

“The fact that we were able to keep COVID-19 positivity rates to modest levels and maintain our campus operations until the Thanksgiving break — when many other institutions could not — says a great deal about our community and its shared resilience and commitment to student success,” says President Joe Bertolino.

Hope also arrived on the national front. On Dec. 14, the United States began a nationwide COVID-19 vaccine campaign, with frontline health care workers receiving the first FDA-approved inoculations. Yet, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States surged to record levels in the winter. As of Feb. 8, the U.S. reported more than 26,761,000 COVID-19 cases and 460,582 related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — devastating statistics that will be dwarfed by the time this magazine arrives in mailboxes.

Keeping campus safe remains the overarching goal for spring 2021, with Southern maintaining and building on safety protocols put in place for the start of the academic year. To help guide the process, in August 2020, Erin Duff, ’16, MPH ’20, was named to the newly created position of COVID-19 coordinator.

The Southern community includes about 11,070 students, faculty, and staff — a greater population than 45 percent of Connecticut’s cities and towns — and working toward their safety is a monumental task. Residence hall attendance was cut to 1,500 students — about 60 percent of regular capacity — to promote social distancing. Similarly, 100 percent of classrooms and student support areas were adapted to meet social distancing guidelines.

Ironically, the campus has never been cleaner. Essential staff are following numerous cleaning/sanitizing protocols, including the use of electrostatic sprayers purchased to disinfect classrooms and public meeting areas at the end of each day.

Student programs have shifted as well, often moving online. In the fall, the university hosted a virtual involvement fair that drew 1,100 students. Similarly, Career Services is responding by providing 10 virtual career fairs for the 2020-21 academic year; implementing a new practice-interview platform; and integrating digital resources for networking and connecting virtually. Even commencement and Homecoming were successfully held online (see sidebar).

Regular randomized testing of students for COVID-19 continues to be conducted on campus — and everyone is required to social distance and wear a face covering in all buildings and outdoors when six feet of separation isn’t possible. (Southern began the academic year with a supply of 85,000 facemasks — 50,000 cloth reusable and 35,000 disposable — which were issued to all students, faculty, and staff.)

The university is also working to support those students facing severe financial hardships exacerbated by COVID-19 — including a critical lack of basic necessities such as food and shelter. More than 30 percent of Southern students are food insecure and the virus has compounded economic disparities. In response, more than $42,000 from the Support Our Students (SOS) Fund was given to Southern students in need since July 2020. The fund covers emergency medical expenses, food, transportation, housing support, and other necessities. On Oct. 28, Southern opened a Food Pantry in the Wintergreen Building and a Social Services Center will connect students to various other types of assistance.

Of course, new developments related to the virus occur regularly and uncertainty remains the norm. Still, Duff remains hopeful. “I know we all crave normalcy. We want things to go back to the way they were — and eventually they will,” she says. “But we need everyone’s help with that. . . .We need to continue social distancing, washing our hands, and wearing our masks at all times. That’s the only way we are going to be able to combat the virus at this time and come out stronger.” •

MORE AT: SouthernCT.edu/reopening

GUIDING US through the Pandemic

A year ago, her current job didn’t even exist. Now, at the age of 26 and having earned her Master of Public Health in December, she’s helping to guide the university through the pandemic. Meet Erin Duff, ’16, M.P.H. ’20, Southern’s COVID-19 coordinator.

DUFF’S JOB RESPONSIBILITIES COVER A LOT OF TERRITORY: “First and foremost, is the randomized testing that we do on campus of residential students, student-athletes, and students in clinical placements, among others,” says Duff, who coordinated COVID-19 testing of 450 to 500 students a week in the fall. She also assists with Southern’s contact tracing program, on-campus quarantine and isolation, and educating the Southern community on COVID-19.

TESTING: takes place in Engelman Hall in the grab-and-go store/dining area, affectionately known as the Bagel Wagon. (It’s temporarily closed for dining, etc.) The site meets public health guidelines: adequate airflow, separate entrance and exit, no carpeting, and adequate space for people to wait safely. “Our student wait time is no more than five minutes, which is really great. . . . When I talk with other schools, their wait can be up to 45 minutes,” says Duff. Results are typically available within two days.

FIRST PRIORITY: “Students and staff fill out a COVID-19 report if they have been exposed or have tested COVID positive. The first thing I do is look for those in my email,” says Duff. She calls those members of the campus community, gathers information, and shares it with Southern’s team of contact tracers.

TRACERS AND OTHER TEAM MEMBERS: Dr. Diane Morgenthaler, director of health services, is the lead contact tracer, working alongside a team of six Southern graduate students. “For most, it is their internship, either for a Master of Social Work or Master of Public Health,” says Duff. All complete contact tracing training from the Department of Public Health. Duff also works closely with the directors of the wellness office and residence life, along with key people in student affairs.

STAYING CONNECTED: Duff meets virtually with the Connecticut Department of Public Health once or twice a week, along with representatives from all of the state’s colleges/universities. She also connects virtually with COVID-19 coordinators from Southern’s sister universities in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (Central, Eastern, and Western). “We have many similarities, so it’s helpful to connect on a more personal level to share ideas,” she says.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW: Duff receives 15 – 30 questions a day about COVID-19 from Southern students, parents, faculty, and staff.

THE MOST COMMON QUESTION: What is meant by close contact? Southern follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition: someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Duff echoes the CDC in noting that extremely close contact, such as kissing, should also be considered.

THREE GREAT MOVES SOUTHERN’S MADE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, ACCORDING TO DUFF: 1) Creating exceptional health-promotion signs for use throughout campus. “A lot of time, effort, and money went into promoting the best ways to protect yourself,” she says. 2) Requiring masks inside and outside, when social distancing isn’t possible. Duff comments: “I like the outside piece. We’ve set the standard: if you are at Southern, you are wearing a mask. There is no gray area.” 3) Creating the COVID-19 coordinator position. “That is pretty telling of the work we are trying to do. [The university administration] is doing the best they can in the situation we are in — even with budget challenges. It doesn’t matter what it takes, we are going to put our students first,” says Duff.

WHY PUBLIC HEALTH: Duff, who’d worked at a camp for those with special needs, came to Southern to major in special education. But an elective taken in her sophomore year — Wellness 101 taught by Lisa Seely, ’03, M.P.H. ’06 — changed her mind. “It ended up being the best decision I ever made,” says Duff.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “That every day is different and the many unknowns,” says Duff.

MOST REWARDING: “Knowing I am helping make Southern a safer place — whether I am answering a question, letting someone know that they are a close contact, or helping the student who is COVID-19 positive. Not everyone sees the day-to-day work. But I know how much effort is being put in by our team. We truly, genuinely care — and that motivates me to keep going even when the days are long,” says Duff. •

WHEN THE MILESTONE GOES VIRTUAL

screenshot of SCSU's post-commencement slideshow

More than 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students from the Class of 2020 were recognized at an ONLINE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY (go.SouthernCT.edu/ scsu2020) on Aug. 15 — and the excitement online was palpable. Family and friends shared joyful comments throughout the 2.5 hour event, which garnered a statewide award for excellence. Highlights included the Blue Steel Drumline and other musical performances; commencement speakers Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Honorary Doctorate awardee Marna Borgstrom, the chief executive officer of Yale New Haven Health; and a post-commencement slideshow (see above) of graduates’ photos and comments.

As more events were held remotely in response to COVID-19, the Southern community continued to respond creatively. Homecoming week in mid-October was a telling example. More than 800 alumni, students, faculty/staff, and families participated while adhering to social-distancing guidelines. Nearly 60 alumni and friends from throughout the U.S. ran and walked in the Bob Corda 5K, held virtually for the first time. Cars parked at an on-campus “drive-in” to watch movies on dual screens. Alumni representing more than six decades gathered online for events, including a conversation with coaches, trivia night, painting sessions, bingo, and more. The community also came out in support of Southern’s student-athletes: the “Sell Out the Stadium” virtual campaign raised more than $23,750 from 558 donors. Thank you! •

online painting sessions

on-campus "drive-in"

A ROOM FOR LEARNING

About 85 percent of Southern classes have 25 students or fewer, but classrooms still needed to be adjusted to meet social-distancing guidelines requiring six feet of separation among all students and faculty. In fact, 100 percent of classroom spaces on campus were reconfigured to help students stay safe. In some cases, temporary classrooms were created on campus, including in the Lyman Center and the grand ballroom in the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. Additional modifications also were made — including scheduling and employing livestream video in classrooms so some students could work from home.

Associate Professor Johathan Wharton teaching al fresco

Teaching in the great outdoors was another creative solution. Jonathan Wharton, associate professor of political science and urban affairs, and interim associate dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, first asked about teaching al fresco during an online forum on reopening campus in fall 2020. His suggestion earned a few chuckles. But many faculty and administrators were intrigued by the idea, which Wharton next addressed in an op-ed for CTNewsjunkie.com. Soon after, he was tapped to discuss the topic on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront.

At Southern, outdoor “classrooms” ultimately were available to faculty by reservation in three locations: the Davis Hall parking lot under the solar panel overhang, under the overhang of Earl Hall, and behind the sculpture overlooking the pond at the rear of Engleman Hall. •