New Operational and Safety Measures for Spring 2021

January 20, 2021

The start of spring semester classes marks the return to hybrid classes with a mix of in-person and online instruction, as well as a measured increase of faculty and staff to provide the academic and support services to meet our students’ needs. Safety protocols have been refined in several areas in response to evolving campus operations and enhanced strategies to mitigate spread of coronavirus at the university.

Loop Road Traffic Flow

To facilitate more efficient vehicular movement across campus for daily activities, two-way traffic flow on Loop Road will resume beginning Monday, Jan. 25. Vehicles may enter and exit at the E. Loop Road Security Gate and Robinson Circle. Vehicles may use the gate on W. Loop Road near the MARC Station as an exit only. Please adhere to two-way traffic rules as you traverse the campus on Loop Road.

Enhanced COVID-19 Testing

The increase in COVID-19 testing to twice per week for those regularly on campus is the next phase of our ongoing effort to keep the BSU campus as safe as possible from the threat of coronavirus. This new testing regimen will significantly enhance our capability to quickly identify and isolate occurrences of the virus before they are able to widely spread within our community.

Faculty, staff and students who are on campus multiple days each week are asked to test twice during the week. Those who are on campus once a week or occasionally should test each time you come to campus. Appointments should be made in advance through the Wellness Patient Portal. Use this chart as a guide to plan your testing schedule:

Periodic
On campus at the beginning and end of the week; once a week or occasionally, (for example, Monday and Friday; only Wednesdays; to pick up something occasionally): Test each day you come to campus

Alternating Days
On campus two or three days with a day off in between (for example, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or Tuesday and Thursday): Test first day and any second day you choose

Consecutive Days
On campus consecutive days (for example, Monday through Friday, or Tuesday through Thursday): Test the first day and any second day you choose

Show the Green Badge

Compliance with the twice weekly testing and daily symptom screening will enable the green badge within the Wellness Patient Portal confirming each individual’s current negative COVID-19 status. The green badge can be required for entry into the campus, residence halls, Student Center, library, classrooms and fitness facilities across the campus. Individual offices may also require the badge for entry. Widespread adoption of the phrase “Show Me Your Badge” is encouraged as the strongest weapon in our fight to combat spread of the virus on campus this semester. In addition to the green badge, requirements for face masks and six-feet social distancing remain in place along with frequent hand washing or sanitizing.

COVID-19 Vaccine

BSU is in the final stages of certification to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to members of the campus community when supply becomes available for distribution from Prince George’s County Health Department. The vaccine is critical to the state and national efforts to control the pandemic. We encourage everyone to plan to take the vaccine as soon as you are eligible in the tiered distribution plans of local jurisdictions. We will keep you informed as the opportunity to receive the vaccine on campus is confirmed.

Please continue to monitor email and the COVID-19 Updates web section for the latest information. Any questions or concerns should be emailed to covid19@bowiestate.edu.