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Miami University launches Healthy Together Plan for the fall return-to-campus

Miami University President Greg Crawford introduced Miami University’s Healthy Together Plan today in preparation for re-opening campus to students this fall.

Centering around Miami’s collective health as a community and its tradition of delivering high-quality educational experiences, the Healthy Together Plan provides information, policies and guidelines for the fall semester during this COVID-19 era.

In a letter to the Miami community, Crawford wrote, “We expect COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future and are planning accordingly. Although no one can guarantee a campus that is free of the virus, we are making several important changes to help reduce the risks. In order to minimize the risk of exposure and infection, we all must remember that the health of each of us depends on the health of all of us.”

The Healthy Together Plan, created through countless hours of work by faculty, staff and students, is flexible enough to respond to the changing landscape of the pandemic.

Miami’s Safe Return to Campus Planning and Coordinating Committee, under the leadership of co-chairs Dana Cox and Gwen Fears, coordinated the information to develop this plan. Miami continues to follow the guidance and directives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Governor Mike DeWine, and the Ohio Department of Health.

The committee and university leadership are also working closely with all of Ohio’s public universities to develop safety guidelines to facilitate the return to our campuses.

“Our ability to return and share the Miami Experience this fall depends to a great extent on how committed we are to respect and care for one another and the communities of Oxford, Hamilton, Middletown, West Chester and Luxembourg,” Crawford wrote.

Some of the key components of the Healthy Together Plan include:

  • Information on academics for fall semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 17. Academic divisions and faculty are designing a robust fall course plan that features a mix of three basic types of classes: 
    1. Face-to-Face (with room for physical distancing), 
    2. Hybrid (some face-to-face and some online components), and
    3. Online.
  • Resources for a successful academic semester. Students will have access to tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic coaching and academic counseling through a variety of formats.
  • Protocols for health care. Miami has been working with TriHealth, our local hospital and healthcare provider, to provide care for our students, faculty and staff. All employees and students are to do a self-assessment every day. Space has been set aside on campus to care for students with symptoms who test positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting results.
  • Guidelines for maintaining a healthy community. Facial coverings are required indoors in all university buildings and outside when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing, such as while entering and exiting buildings, to promote the health and safety of all university members. Whether indoors or outdoors on campus, everyone should work to maintain at least 6 feet of space from others, even if wearing a facial covering.
  • Directions and details for working at Miami. Human Resources created a Return to Work website for Miami employees focused on the safety of faculty, staff and students, and for the public with whom they interact.
  • Information for living in Miami’s residence halls in Oxford and off-campus living housing guidelines for Butler County. Move-in dates for incoming students have been announced and will begin the week of Aug. 10, with a staggered schedule.
  • Details on Miami’s resources. The plan outlines services, including dining, and provides updates on events as they become available.
 To learn more, explore Miami’s Healthy Together website and be sure to visit often for updates and announcements.