UNM-GALLUP RELEASES PHASED REOPENING PLAN

By Lee Lamb

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

---

July 7, 2020 - UNM-Gallup released today its campus plan for the upcoming fall semester beginning on August 17. The university’s plan outlines a phased approach and establishes safety protocols for a hybrid fall semester. UNM-Gallup’s plan is also closely aligned with the UNM main campus reopening plan along with state and federal guidelines—and will continue to follow available data and recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The plan’s number one goal is to ensure student and personnel safety throughout the coming months.

As UNM-Gallup approaches the fall semester, the intention is to limit the number of individuals on campus while implementing a prioritized approach to provide essential campus functions that support student success throughout the fall. Fall classes will be offered in a hybrid or online format. Hybrid is defined as a course that is offered online with limited in-person scheduled instruction on campus. These hybrid courses are reserved for instruction with critical lab or essential skills components.

Events, large gatherings, and other campus activities are postponed through much of the fall semester. The university’s physical education complex will remain closed through August 31, but the fitness trail remains open. The Zollinger Library and campus bookstore will offer curbside pickup and online services as the fall semester begins. And, UNM-Gallup students and personnel will be able to access campus Wi-Fi with their UNM NetID from the university’s parking lots.

Safety protocols outlined within the plan include a requirement for all to wear face masks or face coverings while on campus; stringent cleaning of open facilities, classrooms, and laboratories; and a temporary restriction of outside visitors to limit the number of people on campus. The university will continue to also limit in-person meetings among personnel, utilizing Zoom and other available technologies to conduct university business. Most university personnel will continue to work remotely through August 31.

The phased reopening plan released today is effective through August 31; though adjustments will be made to the plan as needed in response to any new or revised data provided to UNM-Gallup. Additional phases to the plan will be announced after the fall semester begins on August 17. The phased reopening plan is available for review at www.gallup.unm.edu/safe-return.

About UNM-Gallup
Chartered as a community college more than five decades ago, UNM-Gallup operates under the aegis of the University of New Mexico as Gallup’s branch campus. Although our priority has always been to serve the community as a two-year college, our association with UNM has allowed us to be flexible and stretch as the need arrives. As the largest of the four UNM branch campuses, we serve approximately 2,200 students.