Fall 2021 Preparation

The University of Kansas Lawrence and Edwards campuses are planning a return to in-person instruction and service this fall. Instructors and scheduling officers have built course schedules to offer in-person instruction for most courses that had been in-person prior to the pandemic.

While the KU campus will look similar to our pre-pandemic environment, we will continue with important COVID-19 health and safety measures to protect ourselves and our community. The most important step that any of us can take is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.  

Here are some of the similarities and differences students, faculty, staff and campus visitors see next fall.

Everywhere on Campus

• Masks required at all times — including those who are fully vaccinated — in indoor public spaces on Lawrence and Edwards campuses and in recommended in crowded outdoor spaces. Masks also are required on public transportation and in health care facilities. Read the mask policy for exceptions and details.
• Outdoor tents with electricity and WiFi available for study breaks.
• Buses at regular capacity limits.
• Some staff positions designated for remote work.
• Short-term parking permits (daily, 15 use and 30 use) available for faculty and staff.

In Buildings

• Masks required at all times — including those who are fully vaccinated — in indoor public spaces on Lawrence and Edwards campuses and in recommended in crowded outdoor spaces. Read the mask policy for details.
• CVKey app no longer required for entry, but still encouraged for individual health monitoring.
• Most buildings have at least one entrance with a touch-free door opener.
• Hand sanitizing stations available in hallways, typically located near elevators.
• Most restrooms have touch-free flushing and faucets.
• Drinking fountains remain unavailable, but most buildings have at least one water bottle filling station.
• One-way restriction on stairs removed.
• Common areas open.
• Break rooms open and restrictions of food storage lifted.
• Conference and meeting rooms open.
• Air purifiers will be added to common spaces and other rooms where needed.

In Classrooms

• Masks required at all times — including those who are fully vaccinated — in indoor public spaces on Lawrence and Edwards campuses and in recommended in crowded outdoor spaces. Instructors may remove their masks while presenting if they choose (only when 6 feet of distancing can be maintained). Read the mask policy for details.
• No eating or drinking in classrooms.
• Alcohol wipes still available for cleaning desktops.
• Rolling plexiglass barriers and other PPE can be made available by request through KU’s established accommodation process.
• Classroom seating designed for an optimal teaching and learning environment based on the Higher Learning Commission recommendations. Regular seating capacity in lecture halls.

Questions

Additional information about campus space preparation, testing, vaccines, and other health safety efforts for the fall 2021 semester can be found throughout this site. Commonly asked questions can be found on the Protect KU FAQ page, which is updated often. If you are unable to locate the information you are seeking, you can send an email to protect@ku.edu. 

You Have an Important Role

KU students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors will again play an important part in keeping our campus open and focused on teaching and research. By following the proven, science-based health measures we implemented last fall, you helped us successfully complete this academic year without the interruptions that some other institutions faced. Next year, your actions both on and off campus will again be the difference in KU successfully experiencing a more traditional on-campus teaching and learning environment.
We are providing a self-screening tool to help individuals monitor their health to check for any symptoms. Here is the link to that tool: KU COVID-19 Health Assessment Form.  

Contingency Planning

Even with the vaccine rollout and other positive news, there are many unknowns that may complicate our efforts. Our Unified Command team, the Pandemic Medical Advisory Team and a number of other campus teams continue to monitor conditions and will make informed recommendations to KU leadership.

As we work to restore our institution, we will not lose sight of our goal to protect ourselves and others. While no one desires an abrupt shift to online courses as we did in March 2020, we know how to transition to online should we need to in order to better protect the health of our students, employees and the community. We also will look for lessons learned and will evaluate how our offices and staff have functioned over the past 10 months to identify ways we can best meet the needs of students and constituents, while also providing employees with the benefits of flexibility, adequate support and improved work/life integration.