HOUGHTON — Michigan Technological University officials laid out a potential timetable for a phased return to campus during a remote town hall Monday. 

“We know that it’s going to require compliance in ways that we’re not used to, but it’s also going to require creativity on your part to be able to comply and still protect the integrity of our institution,” President Rick Koubek said. “But we have to succeed with this effort on reopening in a safe and effective manner, provided that the government allows us to do so.”

The timeline for the three phases is tentative and will depend upon state orders as well as conditions at the university said Sarah Schulte, chair of the university’s Flex Task Force. 

• The first phase is slated to start on May 28, when the state’s stay-at-home order is scheduled to end, and continue through June 22. Campus services will operate at an estimated 15% to 25% capacity. 

“This will allow us to test our new systems that we’ve put in place that are designed to safeguard our campus community and those who are most vulnerable,” Schulte said. 

During that time, employees will begin a limited return to campus. Employees must still work remotely unless their supervisor schedules them to be onsite.

Those employees who do come to campus must self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms daily. Tech will also launch a testing program for people with symptoms, as well as a contact tracing and notification protocol for positive cases.

Employees must still practice social distancing, and no more than 10 people will be allowed in a space at any time. Common areas in the building will stay closed. 

Residence halls, food service, computer labs and the Rozsa Center will stay closed. Research labs will start to reopen, but with strict social distancing and hygiene protocols in place. 

• In the second phase (June 22-August 16), more employees can come back to work if their supervisor allows it. Up to 25 people will be allowed in a space; people in shared spaces will likely be asked to stagger their shifts.

The library and some retail service will begin to reopen. If permitted by the state, the Student Development Center will also reopen. Remote work will still be encouraged for people caring for an at-risk individual and for people in vulnerable populations, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

If health guidance (and the testing supply chain) permits, employees without COVID-19 symptoms will also be tested. 

Structured campus tours will also resume, with a cap on group sizes. Some student employees, such as resident assistants, might resume in that phase.

• For the third phase, expected to begin August 17, campus operations should be close to normal, although social distancing protocols prescribed by the state will be maintained. While venerable employees are still encouraged to work remotely, most employees will be able to return to campus. 

Residence halls will be open; dining services will too, though they will transition to more “grab-and-go” function. Tech anticipated that up to 50 people will be allowed in a shared space, that transportation will be open, and the Rozsa Center can reopen in a limited faction. 

Though the details are still being worked on, instruction will probably have a mix of in-person and remote instruction, Schulte said. 

Tech is working to have a testing system in place by fall, Schulte said. Epidemiologist Kelly Kamm is leading contact tracing efforts. The Residence Life group is also working with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department to develop isolation procedures for people who test positive. 

“We’re operating under the assumption that we will have cases on campus so that we are prepared to contain and monitor when that could occur,” Schulte said. “But we are also working diligently to prevent that occurring in the first place.”

Proactive isolation for students returning from hotspots was considered impractical, Schulte said. But the university might employ enhanced testing with a focus on areas with high COVID-19 numbers when students return. 

One questioner was concerned about the inability to sanitize classrooms between classes, as well as the lack of automatic doors on campus. Joel Isaacson, project manager for the Flex Task Force, said the facilities team is working to minimize the number of touchpoints on campus. They are also working to install more hand sanitizer stations to meet demand. They are also looking at ways to provide wipes for faculty, students and staff to clean their area. 

As for sanitary protections in the classroom for faculty, Plexiglas is one option being considered, Schulte said. 

“I would say it’s unlikely that we will have a one-size-fits-all solution,” she said. “What we will be doing and what we are doing is trying to figure out what solutions may play both in different classrooms and for different faculty with various concerns.”

The plan for what to do if a student tested positive is still being finalized, Schulte said. If they live on-campus, they may either be moved to a quarantine site or shelter in place with their roommate. Students who live off campus will be asked to stay off campus until recommended by CDC guidelines. 

Asked if students would still have to pay Experience Tech and lab fees, Koubek said the administration was reviewing its budget model with an eye towards being fair to students. He said Tech may provide aid for students who lack necessary technology if they need online instruction. 

Students who have symptoms are encouraged to stay away from campus and other students, and reach out to a medical provider. 

For students who might not feel safe returning to campus, Schulte said those in a vulnerable population should reach out to Student Life to see what accommodations can be made. Other students who feel unsafe returning to campus should also reach out to Student Life, so the university can get a sense of how large that group is and work on solutions, Schulte said. 

“We want to keep our vulnerable population safe,” Schulte said. “We also do want to bring our community back together and that’s going to be a balancing act.”

The university is also preparing for what it will do when students come back from Thanksgiving break. Depending on what COVID-19 numbers look like at campus and in places where students are traveling, they may be asked to isolate for 14 days before returning to campus. 

It’s likely that when students come back from any sort of break, we’re going to have some increased testing in those time periods to make sure that we do have a handle on what’s going on with our campus community,” Schulte said. 

A full recording of the town hall will be available on Tech’s website Tuesday.