CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two West Virginia University affiliates are getting ready for the fall semester, starting with testing students and staff for the coronavirus.
WVU Tech in Beckley began testing on Tuesday, while testing at WVU Potomac State College in Keyser is slated to begin Thursday.
WVU Tech President Carolyn Long said more than 800 people were tested between Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I believe we have nobody that has had to wait longer than five minutes,” she said.
Classes at both campuses are scheduled to start Aug. 19, a week before the fall semester begins at the Morgantown campus.
According to Long, the WVU campuses are sharing a database of testing information as well as utilizing one testing company.
“We learned from Morgantown what they did there,” Long said. “We’ve gotten a lot of help from them as far as how we do this process.”
WVU Potomac State College President Jennifer Orlikoff said testing is being done with enough time to have results back before the first day of class.
“It’s a big undertaking, that’s for sure, but I think it’s an important undertaking so that we can make sure that we have an understanding of what the landscape is that we’re working with,” she said.
Students and staff at both campuses are receiving “welcome back” kits, which include a cloth face mask, disposable masks and hand sanitizer.
The fall semester will include a combination of face-to-face classes, online classes and hybrid lessons. Orlikoff said at the Keyser campus classrooms will have a rolling plexiglass screen. Classroom capacity has been reduced by 50% for social distancing.
“If students have to quarantine, they will be able to continue their engagement in the class remotely. This is a very flexible academic model that’s going to hopefully address as many needs as possible,” she said.
Social distancing and face mask use will be required at both campuses. Long told MetroNews students and faculty are making the necessary adjustments.
“We have about 300 students that moved into dorms,” she said. “From what I have seen, they are doing beautifully.”
Classes at West Virginia State University started on Monday with similar rules to limit the spread of the coronavirus.