Syracuse Sun

State University of New York Upstate Medical University issued the following announcement on Aug. 13.

One of the most highly anticipated and student-focused fall semesters to ever occur at Upstate Medical University is now underway for more than 1,600 students.

As the coronavirus pandemic stretched through the summer, deans from Upstate’s four colleges, along with Upstate leadership, faculty and staff, worked for months to prepare for the fall semester. Their focus was on safety, supporting students and providing the highest quality education through a mix of online and in-person instruction.

The planning has been comprehensive, thoughtful and collaborative, said Lynn Cleary, MD, professor of medicine and vice president for academic affairs.

“Things are going really well and we’re ready,” Cleary said. “We’ve had input from experts in infectious diseases and infection prevention, physical plant, environmental services, information technology and many others. This is our business and we teach our students how to do this work.”

Upstate Medical University, which is part of the State University of New York, had to submit a comprehensive re-opening plan to SUNY. That plan involves extensive safety procedures for everyone on campus including temperature checks, providing and requiring masks, social distancing guidelines as well as instruction plans. The instruction plans were developed individually for each program within Upstate’s four colleges -- College of Health Professions, College of Graduate Studies, College of Nursing and College of Medicine – and many involve a hybrid model of remote and in-person instruction or clinical, hands-on experience with patients.

With many of Upstate’s programs on a non-traditional academic schedule, students have been returning to campus, classrooms and laboratories in stages since late spring and many students have already started fall classes.

The deans from each school communicated directly with students and some programs hosted town hall meetings to get feedback and gauge student comfort level, Cleary said.

“We think most students are comfortable with our plan,” she said. “Many have been anxious to get back to campus and get back to their usual classes.”

Upstate Dean of Student Affairs Julie R. White, PhD, said the pandemic has provided her staff with new opportunities to offer virtual interactions with students and connect directly in new, consistent ways.

“The online platforms have allowed us to get to know some students more quickly,” she said, noting that she has missed in-person interactions with students.

Upstate’s relatively small student body size – 1,651 students across four colleges – has been integral in offering individualized attention and support, Cleary and White said. Upstate’s student body is also comprised of older, more experienced students – all of whom have completed at least two years of undergraduate coursework. Their focus and dedication has been evident since the start of the pandemic, Cleary said.

“Students have been resilient and flexible partners in all of this,” she said. “Upstate students are dedicated to a career in health care or biomedical science, many of which lead to professional licenses, and they’re highly motivated and highly engaged from the time they apply. That stands us apart.”

Part of Upstate’s plan includes strategies to change course should a new spike in coronavirus cases occur, Cleary said. In addition, student affairs continues to seek new ways to offer the activities, services and support in a new, more virtual world, White said. 

“I’m optimistic,” White said of the new semester. “I think the name of our game in student affairs and student life is we’re going to remain flexible and continue to offer every kind of interaction that we have at our disposal to best meet the individual student need.”

Original source can be found here.