For Students
FSCares Re-opening Plan

• Starting July 15, students are encouraged to ship personal items for their rooms to Florida Southern. The College will ensure items are in students’ rooms on move-in day.
  • Items, which will be stored in a climate-controlled warehouse, should be sent to: Student name | c/o Florida Southern College | 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. | Lakeland, FL 33801
  • Boldly write your room assignment on the boxes; if sending multiple boxes, please include 1 of 5, 2 of 5, etc.
• To avoid delays moving in and starting classes, students must submit all medical forms by August 1. This includes the new COVID-19 health screening form.
  • Students and parents are also required to read our Student Health Center’s notice of privacy practices, which outlines student medical information disclosure.

First-year students

• Details about scheduling move-in appointments and activities will be shared by Friday, July 24.
• The scheduling process will help space out move-ins throughout two days and the College’s five first-year halls.
  • Students will be allowed two people to assist with move-in. These persons will need to have temperature checks as outlined below.
  • Students and their guests will have two hours to complete the move-in process.
• All those entering residence halls will have temperature checks provided by a Safe Check temperature device. This allows a person to place their wrist in front of a sensor and be provided with an immediate result.
  • Those who are cleared will receive wrist bands indicating approval to enter the buildings.
  • Anyone with a fever of more than 100.3 will be not be allowed to enter.
• Face masks will be required when inside the building and outside in trafficked areas.
• Clear directional signage will be in place in each building to ensure a proper traffic flow and physical distancing.

Transfer Students

• Check-in will take place August 30 on campus and at the Mocs Express at Holiday Inn.
  • Transfer students assigned to on-campus housing will complete check-in on campus. More details will be provided no later than July 31.
• Students will be allowed two people to assist with move-in. Students and their guests will have two hours to complete the move-in process.
• Clear directional signage will be in place in each building to ensure a proper traffic flow and physical distancing.

Returning Students

• Students will move in by appointment on August 30 and 31. Assigned times will be posted on the Student Portal no later than July 31.
• Student IDs will not be activated until students agree to comply with the return to campus requirements.
• Students will be allowed to have two people to assist with their move-in. Students and their guests will have two hours to complete the move-in process.
• All those entering the buildings will have temperature checks provided by a Safe Check temperature device. This allows a person to place their wrist in front of a sensor and be provided with an immediate result.
  • Those who are cleared will receive wrist bands indicating approval to enter the buildings.
  • Anyone with a fever of more than 100.3 will be not be allowed to enter.
• Clear directional signage will be in place in each building to ensure a proper traffic flow and physical distancing.

Campus Orientation

• Students who move in on August 28 will be engaged in orientation programming on August 29 so the next round of move-ins can occur with low density.
• Activities will be scheduled in outdoor spaces with virtual options available if weather becomes an issue.
  • The College will not host an in-person worship service on the Sunday of move-in, but a virtual service will take place. Details will be shared closer to move-in.

While traditional large gatherings are not possible right now, the College has developed a phased plan to adjust operations as campus and community conditions change.

Please contact Student Life at studentlife@flsouthern.edu with questions.

Testing on Campus

• The College will conduct random temperature checks at various locations daily on campus; the College is also exploring quick-response random COVID-19 testing options.
• Students with a temperature of 100.3 Fahrenheit or higher will be asked to contact their healthcare provider and/or the Student Health Center at 863.680.4292.
• Students should self-evaluate daily for symptoms, including temperature checks. Students with a fever of 100.3 Fahrenheit or higher, or who are experiencing symptoms identified by the CDC should immediately contact their healthcare provider and/or the Student Health Center at 863.680.4292.
  • After hours, students should contact 863.680.4305 for assistance and information about next steps.
• If students are concerned about another student exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, please email FSCares@flsouthern.edu to inform the College.

Dining and Common Areas

• Most food service will be “grab and go” style during the fall. The College has removed most seating so only a limited number of guests will be able to eat inside while maintaining proper social distancing.
  • Menu options will be posted weekly.
  • Travel patterns will be marked so that traffic flows in one direction.
  • Additional seating will be available outside, with proper physical distancing, for student dining.
• Guidelines about the use of gathering spaces and common spaces on campus will be shared before the start of the fall semester.

Clubs and Activities

• The Cornerstone calls on us to promote engagement and student success while supporting positive relationships to connect students to each other, the campus community, and the Lakeland community. Florida Southern will provide highly engaging student life experiences while following local, state, and federal health guidelines.
• Student involvement events, along with clubs and organizations, will be required to follow campus COVID-19 requirements.
• A four-phase plan has been developed to provide guidelines for student clubs, organizations, and activities. The College will progress through phases based on information from the CDC and the Florida and Polk County Departments of Health.
  • Virtual: All activities are remote.
  • Hybrid: Most activities are remote, with some in-person interactions following mask, physical distancing, and attendee requirements.
  • Hybrid 2: Most activities conducted in person while following mask, physical distancing, and attendee requirements. Some virtual meetings when larger audiences are necessary.
  • In-person: The College will enter this phase when COVID-19 requirements are relaxed and mask, physical distancing and attendee requirements have been adjusted.
• Student organizations and the fraternity and sorority community will be permitted to operate following guidance from the Center for Student Involvement and Florida Southern College.
  • The Center for Student Involvement will notify student organizations and the fraternity and sorority community about which phase to adhere to based on recommendations from the CDC. Additionally, Engage will be updated to represent the current phase.
• Professionals in the Simmons Multicultural Center will offer programming, support, and connections based on the plan.
• Counseling Center staff are prepared to support and encourage students primarily through telehealth appointments and other virtual programming.
• Student Solutions Center staff are ready to provide academic and transition support primarily through virtual meetings.
• A Virtual Family Weekend plan is being offered to celebrate the best of Florida Southern.
• The College will monitor local pandemic conditions and evaluate how to safely conduct intramural activities, including regular sports, e-sports, and special events designed around maintaining physical distancing.

Community Living

• Because of the uniqueness of each of our residential communities, individual health and safety plans have been developed for each area and will be posted on Engage.
• No non-FSC guests will be allowed in the residential halls for visits.
• Students will be required to follow all guidelines to remain a member of our residential community.

Athletics

• Athletics will follow all College COVID-19 policies and procedures; Athletics continues to work with the Sunshine State Conference and NCAA about how to safely conduct fall and winter sports.
• Strict cleaning protocols of equipment and facilities will be in effect, including limited access to the athletic training room, weight room, meeting, and locker rooms based on national best practices.
• Fan attendance at competitions will be determined by College, local, state, and federal guidelines in place at that time.
• COVID-19 Checks: All student-athletes will be checked when they return to campus and prior to attending team activities. The check will include taking temperatures and health questionnaires.
  • Once on campus, student-athletes will use a software program and perform a daily self-check. The athletic training staff will monitor the daily results.
  • The Sunshine State Conference is requiring a wellness check prior to all competition.
• Recruits on Campus: Recruits will undergo wellness checks and be restricted where they can go on campus. If a workout is part of the visit, equipment will be sanitized pre- and post-workout. The recruit will not be able to use FSC locker rooms and other facilities.
• Athletic Training: Access will be limited. Appointments will be scheduled to help manage group sizes. A table with supplies will be set up outside the athletic training room with basic supplies and ice. Everyone entering the training room will use hand sanitizer and face masks will be required.
• Weight Room: Access will be limited. The weight room will schedule groups; groups that are waiting must observe physical distancing policies. Staff will ensure equipment is cleaned after each group uses it. Everyone will need to use hand sanitizer entering and leaving.
• 6th Man Room: Access will be limited. Everyone will use hand sanitizer and wear masks. Coaches are responsible for sanitizing the tables after the meetings.
• Meeting Room: Access will be limited. Coaches are responsible for sanitizing the tables after meetings.
• Practices and Games: Depending on the team, FSC will discontinue using water bottles and bench towels. Small teams can use water bottles and they will be marked for each player.
  • Disposable cups or “Waterboy” tanks and coolers will be used for practice and games. FSC will purchase hand towels or bar towels to be used once by the student-athlete and then collected and washed.
  • Visiting teams will be sent information regarding FSC procedures.
  • All student-athletes for both teams will be wellness checked on the day of the event and/or before entering our facilities.
  • Fan attendance will be determined by College, local, state, and federal guidelines in place at that time.
  • Large halftime and timeout activities are currently cancelled. Individual activities will need to meet social distancing guidelines.

When COVID-19 cases and possible cases develop on campus, the College will respond quickly and transparently to protect the health and safety of the campus community. This includes enacting quarantine and testing protocols, communications to affected individuals, contact tracing, and more.

Students who become symptomatic for COVID-19 or receive positive tests must immediately contact 863.680.4305 for quarantine assistance and information about next steps.

Students must quarantine when they:

• Test positive for COVID-19.
• Become symptomatic for COVID-19.

Students with Positive Tests

• Students who receive positive tests must immediately contact 863.680.4305 for assistance and information about next steps.
• Students who test positive for COVID-19 must quarantine until cleared by a medical professional to return to normal campus activity.
  • Students living in residence halls will not be allowed to remain in their regular campus residence during quarantine.
• The College expects that in-state students who need to quarantine will return home to do so, as FSC will have limited facilities to house quarantined students.
  • Out-of-state students who can return home are encouraged to do so, but the College understands the travel challenges associated with doing so.
  • The College has currently reserved quarantine spaces both on- and off-campus.
  • Students who quarantine will not be able to bring emotional support animals with them and must arrange to house them separately when quarantining in College-supervised accommodations.
• Students who test positive will identify all areas where they were physically present within three days prior to the onset of symptoms.
  • If there are no symptoms, the student will identify where they were present from the known or estimated exposure date.
  • The College will sanitize those areas immediately.
• Students in College-supervised quarantines will be provided food, medical checks, counseling, and other services as needed.
  • College staff members will be assigned to monitor students who are in quarantine.
• The College will follow local, state, and federal guidelines for contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 positive students.
  • In accordance with privacy laws, the College cannot personally identify infected persons.
• Faculty will work with students who must quarantine to ensure academic progress continues.

Students Exposed to a Positive Case

• Students who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual may be required to quarantine (for commuters, this means quarantining off campus until cleared to return; for residential students, this means moving to our designated isolation/quarantine space).
• A student who has close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 should immediately contact 863.680.4305 for quarantine assistance and information about next steps.
• The College expects that in-state students who need to quarantine will return home to do so, as FSC will have limited facilities to house quarantined students.
  • Out-of-state students who can return home are encouraged to do so, but the College understands the travel challenges associated with doing so.
  • The College has currently reserved quarantine spaces both on- and off-campus.
  • Students who quarantine will not be able to bring emotional support animals with them and must arrange to house them separately when quarantining in College-supervised accommodations.
• Students in College-supervised quarantines will be provided food, medical checks, counseling, and other services as needed.
  • College staff members will be assigned to monitor students who are in quarantine.
• Faculty will work with students who must quarantine to ensure academic progress continues.

Contact Tracing

To help limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and ensure the safety of our community, the College has partnered with Rapid-Trace, a local firm aiding businesses and institutions with contact tracing following positive COVID-19 tests.

Rapid-Trace contact tracers will work for the College as contracted employees of the Health Center and will notify you in the event you have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

With Rapid-Trace, we will be able to identify and inform people who have contracted the virus and those in contact with confirmed cases, so they can take the necessary steps to prevent further spread. Please cooperate with our contact tracing efforts and Rapid-Trace personnel.