JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — College students are heading back to campus, taking classes both virtually and in small groups in-person. With the re-opening of schools, some Northeast Florida college campuses are instilling new rules and programs to not only be transparent about the virus on campus, but also voice that there will be repercussions if people do not socially distance or wear a mask.
Flagler College went back to school this week. The college said it has a five-step warning process for students who do not follow the rules, which include social distancing and wearing a mask when you cannot properly socially distance. Representatives with the college tell Action News Jax while there is a five-step warning process, if a student is defiant and uncooperative they can move straight to suspension.
Jacksonville University said violations will be taken very seriously and considered on a case-by-case basis. A spokesperson went on to say “students who are attending gatherings greater than 10 people in situations where people aren’t wearing masks or social distancing may be asked to leave campus for two weeks and continue their coursework online during that time period.”
Some NE Florida colleges, including UNF, are launching #COVID19 case tracking websites, where anyone can monitor the number of cases on a day-by-day basis. I'll break down the numbers and how colleges are working to combat COVID, coming up on CBS47/FOX30 at 5 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/15cI697dr6
— Meghan Moriarty (@MeghanANjax) August 27, 2020
The University of North Florida did not respond to our comment for a one-on-one interview, but did send information regarding its current policy for dealing with the coronavirus and campus policy violations.”We need you [the students] to do your part to protect each other,” the statement said. “Both hosting and engaging in social gatherings where CDC guidelines are not followed are considered behaviors that endanger the health, safety and well-being of those within our UNF community. Consequences for these behaviors may result in sanctions including expulsion from the University.”You can read further details on their website: https://www.unf.edu/coronavirus/
All three colleges have also launched COVID-19 case tracking websites in order to be more transparent about the cases on campus.
As of August 25, 2020, UNF has the highest amount of student COVID-19 cases at 25. But, the university started tracking earlier than others. That number is reflective of the number of cases from July until now. Jacksonville University and Flagler have two cases as of August 25, 2020.
You can track cases at the colleges on these three websites:
(https://www.unf.edu/emergency/Cases.aspx)
(https://www.ju.edu/readytoreturn/cases.php)
(www.flagler.edu/COVIDCasesReport)
Cox Media Group
