All students had their temperature taken before moving into their residence halls. They are required to take their temperature and fill out an online screening form daily.
Dominican College welcomed students back to campus at the end of August following the COVID-19 outbreak and a move to remote learning in spring. The move came after a comprehensive, 32-page College Reopening Plan called “Dominican College – Moving Forward” was submitted to New York State, outlining plans to reopen the College safely. The plan was the culmination of months of work by the Reopening Coordinating Committee, led by Chair Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, Chancellor for External Affairs, in conjunction with the President’s Cabinet.
The committee was guided by the following principles:
- Dominican College will fulfill our mission and meet our standard of excellence.
- The health and safety of our college community are both paramount. Protecting our students, faculty, and staff is the starting point for each decision.
- We will be flexible and innovative in the face of evolving circumstances.
- We will heed our responsibility to ensure the College’s financial strength and stability.
The plan sets forth requirements for students, faculty and staff to wear face masks and to complete an online screening questionnaire, including a temperature check, each day they plan to be on campus. Additional protective measures include the presence of hand sanitizer at all entrances/exits and in high traffic areas, and frequent cleaning and disinfection of campus buildings.
Classrooms, the dining hall and offices throughout campus have been reconfigured and/or modified to allow for social distancing. In addition to face-to-face classes, students are able to take courses remotely with the hyflex and hybrid models of teaching. Furthermore, capacity in residence halls was reduced to ensure the health and safety of the College community.
Included in the plan is a Dominican Cares Pledge for students to commit to taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The pledge begins by stating, “Dominican College is a community of caring. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we all share in the responsibility for keeping our community safe. The conditions of the COVID-19 global pandemic require every one of us to commit to responsible actions and to being an accountable member of both the Charger and Dominican College community. “
Complete details of the reopening plan are available here.