July 9, 2020
As we prepare to return to campus for the Fall semester, I am sure some of you may have questions about what the university is doing to ensure your well-being. Your safety is always our top priority. That is why dedicated staff from UCF Facilities & Safety never left when our campuses depopulated in March. For the past several months, they have been getting ready for the arrival of our students, faculty and staff by retrofitting buildings with features meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.
We know we must remain flexible in our planning for the Fall. We are ready to adjust our plans based on local conditions in coordination with the local Florida Department of Health.
Improvements you will see as you return to campus include:
- Distribution of reusable face coverings to all students, faculty and staff. All students and employees will be required to wear face coverings inside shared indoor spaces and outdoors in areas where physical distancing isn’t possible.
- Drastically reduced seating capacity in classrooms to ensure physical distancing
- 1,200 touchless hand sanitizer dispensers and 600 disinfecting wipe dispensers installed across campus
- Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces with frequent wipe-downs of door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, common-area surfaces and bathrooms
- Increased numbers of hands-free flushing toilets, soap dispensers and faucets, as well as door-mounted foot levers for hands-free opening
- Nightly application in all classrooms of a sanitizing fogging treatment that kills viruses and bacteria
- Touchless paper towel dispensers installed campus-wide
- Plexiglass panels mounted in the welcome center, financial aid offices, student advising offices and other areas
- Upgraded building ventilation systems with UV-C ultraviolet lighting in high-density buildings; and upgraded air filtration across campus
- Signage posted across campus reminding people to wear masks, physically distance and wash their hands
In addition, UCF has approved a detailed plan for operational changes from food service provider Aramark, including additional sanitizing and protective equipment, the elimination of self-serve stations and exposed foods to mitigate the chance of cross-contamination, and disposable flatware and cups.
The university also has provided guidance to help you determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, as well as information about contact tracing to slow the spread.
If you continue to have unanswered questions or require more detailed information, please visit UCF’s coronavirus website.
These changes to campus are being made with your health and safety in mind. At the same time, it is important to recognize the biggest difference can be made by you. By wearing a mask, physically distancing from others, and practicing good hand hygiene, you do more to protect yourself and others than anything else. Knights protect others, and we ask that you “Armor Up” for those around you.
Misty Shepherd
Interim Vice President, Administration
Chief Operating Officer