Board of Governors approved UNF’s plan to reopen for fall semester Tuesday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Board of Governors approved UNF’s plan to reopen for the fall semester Tuesday.

But the vote didn’t come without concern, such as managing students with the Republican National Convention in town in August.

University President David Szymanski said they will stress social distancing and mask-wearing for attendees.

More concern came in over UNF’s plan to have students, faculty and staff self-report any symptoms using an app prior to coming on-campus.

Board member Eric Silagy stressed that there’s technology to accurately check body temperatures.

“The issue that you’re going to have is you’re going to have students who are asymptomatic,” Silage said. “And so, they’re going to feel fine.”

UNF will have plans for remote classes and quarantining, they’ll require masks on-campus, housing will be decreased by about eight percent and all athletes will be tested.

Still, students like Austin Belet are worried.

“I’m sure that UNF is going to do everything that they can to try to make sure that it’s a sanitary environment for everybody, but I’m not convinced that it should be reopened yet,” Belet said.

Fall classes begin August 17.