Clemson University has spent the summer preparing a plan for on-campus learning for the coming fall semester. To this end, many changes to how students, faculty and staff interact are being made on Clemson’s campus, particularly in the classroom experience. General best practices such as face coverings and social distancing will be required while indoors. A specific strategy has been developed for academic buildings to meet the university’s expectations for safe learning within the classroom.
An ad hoc team consisting of space planners, building officials, and design professionals from various Facilities departments have been assisting Clemson University Emergency Management, Occupational & Environmental Safety, Building Security Coordinators, as well as the Provost to define how spaces are utilized with the guidelines for social distancing. As part of this, each classroom space is detailed with furniture layouts and chair placements.
Classroom floor plans have been updated to reflect social distancing practices.
This effort determines the number of students a classroom can accommodate while ensuring proper distancing.
Most Clemson courses are a hybrid of face to face instruction with online components. For larger classes to remain in-person, Facilities is helping to find additional spaces on campus that will accommodate large groups while also maintaining social distancing protocol. We have also collaborated with CCIT and academic affairs and the Provost to equip almost 700 classrooms, labs, and other spaces, with furniture, microphones and cameras installed in many classrooms.
This will allow for livestreaming of lectures for online instruction. With the goal of having the majority of classes that have face to face instruction blended with online components, Clemson is working diligently to ensure that this plan meets the medical guidelines for COVID-19 social distancing.
For more information about Clemson’s plan for the fall semester, please see the university’s dedicated website for COVID-19. There you can find up-to-date news, tips and best practices for students, faculty and staff.
