COVID-19 presents challenges to institutions to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. Looking at what institutions have decided for the fall shows what is being done to complete that goal. Take a look at plans for University of Idaho, Washington State University, Boise State University, Lewis-Clark State College, Idaho State University, College of Idaho and College of Southern Idaho.
UI’s main defense for COVID-19 this semester is its mask mandate.
While classrooms are returning to full capacity, masks are required once again in indoor settings.
Random testing is no longer being implemented or available on campus. Vaccines are highly recommended, something the university has been pushing for with vaccine incentives.
More details on UI’s fall protocols can be found in previous Argonaut reports.
Washington State University – Pullman, WA
WSU, located right next door to UI, and shows the sharp contrast between the states.
WSU will require vaccines to be able to attend classes. This is mandatory for both students and employees. Any in-person courses and activities will be expected to have had the vaccination and proof of vaccination.
Unlike public Idaho colleges limited by Gov. Brad Little’s previous executive order, Washington schools can mandate vaccinations. In contrast, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is requiring all state school employees be vaccinated.
Masks will be required regardless of vaccination status. This is due to Washington state’s universal face covering mandate. Instructors will be able to remove masks to teach, as long as they remain six feet from the class or behind plexiglass barriers.
Exemptions from vaccination are allowed for proven medical and religious reasons, not personal reasons. Testing will not be required for unvaccinated students. However, those showing symptoms or who have had a known exposure to a person with COVID-19 should schedule a test.
Classes will be in-person and at full capacity.
Boise State University – Boise, Idaho
Another four-year public institution, some of BSU’s policies for the fall are similar to UI’s. BSU announced mandated masks on campus, which began Aug. 12, and will not be requiring vaccines.
Similarly to UI, BSU will have vaccine incentives, awarding $2,500 housing vouchers randomly to students who get tested from Aug. 18-31.
Unlike UI, faculty and students living on campus BSU’s fall semester are required to get tested. This does not include all students attending class on campus.
According to their FAQ page, those who are fully vaccinated or have previously had COVID-19 are exempt from tests.
Also different from UI’s policies, BSU requires masks in outdoor spaces as well.
“Facial coverings must be worn in indoor public spaces owned or controlled by the university as well as in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status,” the BSU’s page states.
BSU’s classrooms will also have assigned seating to minimize contact tracing.
BSU’s Office of Communications and Marketing could not be reached for comment.
Lewis-Clark State College – Lewiston, Idaho
LCSC is another four-year institution.
Face coverings have been required beginning Aug. 16 and until Sept. 17. These will be monitored based on their operational level matrix that explains what will be done to ensure the safety of those attending and working at LCSC based on the area’s risk level for COVID-19.
Currently, LCSC will have weekly surveillance testing.
Vault testing kits, supplied by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, will be given to students and employees starting Aug. 23. Vault tests are a saliva based, self-administered test. Results are reported to the individual and Idaho Public Health.
Those who are vaccinated or have been infected in the past 60 days will be able to opt-out of testing by providing verification.
Vaccinations are not required to attend but encouraged. LCSC will have an incentive vaccination program for those that provide proof of verification.
Those that do provide proof will have $100 of “warrior bucks” put onto their student ID cards and be entered in drawings to receive one of two in-state tuition scholarships that will be awarded in the spring semester.
Classes will be taught in-person but will be offered online and hybrid courses as well.
Idaho State University – Pocatello, Idaho
Located in southeastern Idaho, ISU is a four-year public university.
ISU is monitoring their campus for operational levels that show what each stage entails for those attending and working at the university.
The university recommends the vaccine to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and is offering four hours of paid leave to all university employees, student and temp employees.
ISU is also doing an incentive program to encourage students to get vaccinated. Those that provide proof of vaccination are eligible for a $100 voucher placed on the student’s account. As well as being entered in a weekly drawing of $500 to be used at the ISU bookstore, $1000 cash and more to be announced.
The university requires face masks, regardless of vaccination status. However, this will be reviewed every two weeks and changed depending on local levels of COVID-19.
ISU is currently at a white risk level, meaning that testing will be made available and certain groups may be required to be tested.
Instruction will be in-person with no physical distancing required.
College of Idaho – Caldwell, Idaho
With their unique position as a private school, COI was able to do one thing other universities weren’t, require vaccines.
According to COI Director of Marketing and Communications Joe Hughes, the school has three categories students can fall into when it comes to options.
Either students get fully vaccinated, obtain medical or religious exemption or they can pay for their own weekly COVID-19 testing. COI documents clarify that “The College does not allow for personal/philosophical exemptions.”
While there are options provided to students, the college is able to require vaccines as a private institution, not bound by the governor’s executive order which addresses state entities. Masks are also required on campus.
Hughes attributed much of this decision making to capacity this fall.
“Being fully in person, there’s not as much of an opportunity to distance from one another,” Hughes said.
According to Hughes, a survey sent out to students found that around 90% were vaccinated. Faculty neared 100%.
The school’s classrooms will be back at full capacity and without most social distancing measures. Grab and go options will be available at the cafeteria but dine in also remains.
College of Southern Idaho – Twin Falls, Idaho
CSI is a two-year college. Being rather small in student population, they have changed their protocols based on local levels of COVID-19.
According to CSI Public Information Specialist Alex Daw, the college is yet to send out communications to students about specific COVID-19 protocols.
The school will not be enforcing a mask mandate at this time, though they did the previous spring. As an Idaho school, vaccines cannot be required.
Daw explained the college “views it as a matter of personal choice.” At the same time, Faculty and staff are being offered vaccine incentives.
While masks may not be mandated, CSI is monitoring the situation with their COVID-19 dashboard.
Some classes are remaining online or in a hyflex format, while others are in person.
Daniel V. Ramirez and Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @DVR_Tweets and @haadiyatariq