As colleges start making final preparations for the fall, many are still weighing concerns about what an “open” campus may look like. The ramifications of their next decisions could be huge, especially for institutions already under intense financial pressure. But the variables are larger still. Enrollments are unpredictable at best, and the public-health implications of reopening remain the most urgent concern — being the hardest to project. Amid that swirling uncertainty, colleges must plan for a wide range of short-term scenarios while anticipating longer-term challenges.
What are the considerations and key indicators that campus leaders must weigh to make informed decisions that create resilient institutions? And what are the conditions of a responsible and successful reopening?
Hosted by Chronicle writer Lee Gardner with a panel of college executives and planning experts, as they offer advice to help leaders think through their approach. It will examine reopening protocols — screening, social distancing, and other protective measures — crucial to consider. The discussion will be streamed for a live audience, with interactive opportunities for participants to comment and pose questions.
Panelists include: