Two new staff members focused on student health and safety will greet Anderson University students as they arrive for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Brianna Calhoun has joined Anderson University as a student care coordinator, and Kelsey Mitchell is new to staff as a trained contact tracing specialist. Both are key parts of the Journey Ahead, Anderson University’s campus reopening plan. Students are arriving on campus over the next several days, and the first day of classes for the fall semester is Wednesday, August 19.
“All of us at Anderson University are not only focused on in-person instruction this year, we’re committed to reopening stronger than ever before, and with a singular focus as we educate on the health and safety of the campus community,” said Senior Vice President for Student Development Dr. Jim Fereira. “Bringing on new, experienced staff whose sole responsibility is protecting our campus from illness, while serving and supporting impacted students, is one of the most important things we can do. We’re delighted to have Brianna and Kelsey on our team.”
Dr. Fereira, who serves as chairman of the Anderson University COVID-19 Task Force, said hiring new staff is just one part of the Journey Ahead plan.
“Adding resources is crucial, whether that’s purchasing new, state-of-the-art sanitizing equipment or creating new spaces for physical distancing in and out of the classroom,” he said. “While no one can predict the future, we are ready to welcome our students back home and are looking forward to a safe and successful year at Anderson University.”
Additional protocols put in place by the University include requiring masks or face coverings while indoors on University property; requiring masks outdoors when physical (social) distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained; robust cleaning and disinfection of campus facilities before, during and after use; and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and South Carolina Department of Environmental Control (SCDHEC) guidelines, among other steps.