Early questions focused on response to the illness itself, including the conditions under which the illness spreads—surface, airborne, physical contact—and the best means to respond. Should we focus on cleaners? air filters? gloves? masks? wipe-downs? Subsequent decisions revealed the cascading effects of the pandemic:

Do we require masks? If so, where? (inside, outside, dining halls, athletic events, transportation, classrooms, labs, libraries?) And what kind of mask (Cloth? Disposables? N95s? KN95s? Gators? Scarves?) Do we make these available or hope people can find their own?
Do we require testing? If so, what kind? (Antigen? PCR? Wastewater?) and with what frequency? (Daily, weekly, after exposure After symptoms emerge? Surveillance?) How available are the tests? And who pays for the testing?
Do we contact trace? If so, with what personnel? With what instructions for contact? With what confidence in accuracy? Or privacy? And at what cost?
How do we measure proper social distancing? (6 feet? 3 feet? Front to back? Circular perimeter?)
How do we secure entry/exit from buildings (One-way? Two-way? Automatic or human door openers?) And do we lay out directional arrows to keep building traffic going in a consistent flow with less chance for airborne spread?
Should we confront someone who is not following the community standards? How? Are there penalties? Fines? Honor code violations? Send-homes? For how much or how long? Is there an appeal process?
Do we require vaccinations? Boosters? Do we allow medical or religious waivers? Who determines which waivers are acceptable? What are the consequences or penalties for not following college policy?
How do we care for students/employees who become ill? How much space do we set aside for isolation/quarantine? How will we check on someone's physical and mental condition? Do we deliver food? Communicate with family? Protect privacy?
Do we allow visitors on campus? Trustees? Guest speakers? Parents? Visiting athletic teams? Contractors? Vendors? Can we insist they follow our community standards and if so, how do we communicate those standards to visitors and what are the penalties for violations?
How do we encourage potential students to come to campus if we are not allowing visitors? How do we show one of our best features—our campus—to potential employees, new partners, and parents?
How do we graciously cancel event contracts? Weddings? Speakers? Performances? Competitions? And when can we reschedule them? Or start accepting new events? With what rules or guidelines in place?
How do we redefine traditions such as study abroad, research, internships, community service, and other options that embody the character of so much of what we do?
How does campus safety secure a once-open campus from a pandemic and these concurrent elements?
How does our food provider contract for quality and quantity of meals with uncertain fluctuations of students on campus using meal plans?
How can we project an accurate budget for the upcoming cycle? What financial scenarios are we testing, depending on a 3-month versus 3-year-plus duration of the pandemic? Do we increase or decrease our drawdown from the endowment? The quasi-endowment? Do we initiate a special appeal to donors? To legislators? Do we increase/decrease tuition, room & board?
Do we continue our building projects? Hiring? Partnerships? Other strategic initiatives?
How do we recognize and support front-line workers who cannot work from home? How do we ensure fairness for those working from home whose hours dramatically increased or decreased during the pandemic?
How do we respond to critics who wonder why we aren't doing what XYZ University is doing down the street or in another state altogether?

When will it be really over?

These questions, of course, are just a glimpse of the questions and decisions that have swirled during the pandemic, and we remain with one of the most stubborn of all: When will it be really over, if ever, or will we have to go back into pandemic-decision mode at any moment? What will we have learned about our institutions, our students, our community, and ourselves?

Instant Insights /

Are we going to miss the opportunity to make higher ed more transparent?

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