NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee State University students returned to campus this week and freshmen moved into their new homes away from home under new safety measures.
Move-in began Tuesday and will last through Monday, Aug. 17. But it wasn't an average move-in day.
Before going into their buildings, students and anyone helping them move, remained in their vehicles to have their temperatures checked followed by a COVID-19 self-test at a checkpoint in the Gentry Complex parking lot.
Students were scheduled in two-hour blocks with a maximum of 100 students moving in per day, per building based on building capacity and classification.
“This pandemic is unlike any challenge we have ever faced,” TSU President Glenda Glover said last month in a letter to TSU students, faculty and staff. “All decisions have been made with the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff as the top priority. We are working closely with public health experts, including the Metro Public Health Department and Tennessee Department of Health, for crucial information that will help with the housing plan.”
Under TSU’s plan, residential spaces will be set aside for isolation and quarantining, if needed. Extensive procedures are also being implemented for the safety and health of Residence Life, housekeeping, and facilities staff.
TSU is also implementing a 14-day “safer in place” policy upon arrival for all students in residence halls. The policy requires students to stay in their places of residence unless they need to perform essential activities, such as getting food or going to medical appointments.
Dr. Curtis Johnson, TSU’s chief of staff, said in a press release that despite the circumstances, “we’re excited about the return of our students to the campus.”
“We know that this is a different environment than what they traditionally are accustomed to,” said Johnson. “We’ve implemented a number of protocols to try to maintain safety and to give them an opportunity to exercise safe precaution.”
