ONTARIO, Calif. (BP) — On-campus instruction, following specific protocols, will resume during the Fall 2020 semester at each of Gateway Seminary’s campuses.
“We are committed to providing the highest level of educational delivery while following necessary health and safety guidelines for students and staff regarding the threat of COVID-19,” said Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary.
Iorg said the school is ready to meet current governmental guidelines on reopening and to implement additional best practices for students in face-to-face classes.
Measures include requiring students and staff to wear facemasks, practice social distancing and wash hands frequently. New custodial practices to decontaminate shared spaces are in place, though some portions of the campus facilities in California will be closed to reduce the need for additional cleaning. The libraries at each campus will offer full services, but with limited study space available each day.
Most on-campus classes will also offer a video access option and some classes will be available exclusively through two distance learning formats — video access or online courses. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students are preparing to quickly shift face-to-face delivery to video access in case local or state governments enact more stringent regulations.
All events organized by outside groups at the Ontario campus have been canceled for the semester. Gateway co-curricular events will be limited to fewer than 25 in-person participants. Chapel services have been canceled at the main campus.
“Our highest priority is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students at our campuses. We can best do that in these circumstances by limiting other programs and events,” Iorg said. “These are difficult decisions to make, but our mission hasn’t changed — we continue to shape leaders who expand God’s kingdom around the world despite the present difficulties of the Coronavirus pandemic.”
This article was originally published by Baptist Press at bpnews.net