Pandemic Planning & Response Team
Last updated June 8, 2020
The Pandemic Planning & Response Team is charged with a set of objectives designed to prepare UND to be a COVID-19 resistant campus.
Led by Jed Shivers, Vice President of Finance & Operations, and comprised of individuals from across campus, the Pandemic Team meets daily to plan for UND’s smart restart in the fall.
Smart Restart Guiding Principles
Every day, the University is making decisions about how to appropriately respond to the dynamic nature of COVID-19. Our decisions and actions must:
- First and foremost, consider the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff
- Ensure that our educational and scholarly experiences remain focused on excellence
- Sustain a sense of community founded upon principles of respect and empathy
- Promote a sense of collaboration on campus, in the local community and across the State of North Dakota
- Apply consistently to the many areas of our campus, while simultaneously recognizing key differences in those areas
- Respond sensibly to changing conditions of the pandemic
Our decisions will be informed by federal and state guidance as well as commonly accepted practices at other colleges and universities, and we will communicate with the campus frequently. UND’s resistant policies and procedures may be different than those in Grand Forks or the state. This is because there are several unique aspects of UND. The high-density population, and increased volume of human interaction requires us to be extra vigilant in our efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Team Objectives
Testing
Develop a strategy to create a COVID-19 resilient campus through focused and random surveillance testing.
- Procure a testing machine and have on campus. (Rosy Dub).
- Develop plan for training on use of testing equipment and supplies. (Rosy Dub).
- Procure testing supplies. (Rosy Dub).
- Develop scope of work and a collection of samples protocol for testing events (who, when and where), including on-campus surveillance testing. (Rosy Dub).
- Identify a focus group to facilitate testing, contact tracing and quarantine protocols. (Rosy Dub).
Contact Tracing
Develop and implement a contact tracing program on the UND campus.
- Have Student Health Services staff (at least 7 members) complete necessary contact tracing training. (Rosy Dub)
- Develop a contact tracing protocol (who, when, where and how) to be implemented for the fall 2020 semester. (Rosy Dub).
- Identify all necessary stakeholders and follow-up required upon completion of the contact tracing outcome. (Rosy Dub)
- Identify and procure all necessary resources to complete contact tracing. (Rosy Dub).
Physical Distancing and Separation Requirements
Develop and implement procedures necessary to ensure physical distancing guidelines are available and in place prior to the fall 2020 semester.
- Develop physical distancing occupancy standards for campus. (Eric Plummer).
- Develop classroom configuration and safety guidance for faculty. (Debbie Storrs and Terry Wynne).
- Develop dining configuration and safety guidance. (Orlynn Rosaasen).
- Develop residence hall operations and living configuration safety guidance. (Troy Noeldner).
- Remove excess furniture from gathering spaces on campus prior to fall semester. (Mike Pieper).
- Develop messaging and communication standards for the campus community regarding physical distancing, health and hygiene expectations. (Meloney Linder).
- Verify classroom capacity and install Plexiglas in each classroom. (Les Bjore).
Vulnerable Population Considerations
Develop and communicate information and resources to those faculty, staff and students who fall within the vulnerable population category prior to the start of the fall 2020 semester.
- Communicate information and updates to faculty, staff and students regarding ADA accommodations which may be necessary. (Peggy Varberg).
- Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to campus departments requesting additional precautions for faculty, staff and students within the defined vulnerable population. (Terry Wynne).
- Develop communication channels to provide updated information on best practices and other official guidance for vulnerable populations. (Meloney Linder).
Disinfection Requirements
Develop and implement disinfection procedures and resources for the campus community.
- Develop cleaning and disinfection protocols including frequency for all areas (i.e., classrooms, offices, residence halls, dining, auxiliary spaces). (Mark Johnson).
- Develop disinfection and protection procedures for students entering and leaving the classroom and other academic instructional areas. (Debbie Storrs).
- Develop process for consistent and uninterrupted supply of environmental disinfection and hygiene products. (Jen Berger).
Communications
Develop and implement communications plan for the campus community.
- Develop communication channels to provide updated information on campus community expectations, best practices and other official guidance for entire campus community. (Meloney Linder).
- Create communications processes and dashboards to ensure communication capabilities throughout the life of the pandemic emergency. (Jen Berger).
Activities & Events
Return to hosting activities and events on campus in a safe and effective manner as we move into phase two and phase three of the pathway to recovery plan.
- Develop and implement a phased plan to reintegrate athletic competitions into the campus community taking into consideration best practice guidance. (Bill Chaves).
- Develop and implement a phased plan to reintegrate and support activities and events into the campus community taking into consideration best practice guidance. (Linda Olson).
- Develop guidelines designed for student groups and organizations so they can continue activities consistent with university requirements. (Cassie Gerhardt and Debbie Storrs).
Academic Support
Provide and recommend support services to aid faculty in maintaining and promoting high quality educational opportunities and experiences for students and colleagues.
- Implement creative technological platforms to assist faculty in teaching in non-traditional format given the uncertainty of the pandemic environment (i.e., flipped classes, hybrid approaches). (Madhavi Marasinghe, TTaDA, Facilities).
- Promote a collegial and supportive academic culture which inspires motivation, confidence and creativity among faculty members that will ensure on-campus and online instruction needs are met. (Debbie Storrs).
- Implement a Housing network upgrade. (Madhavi Marasinghe).
Team Members
If you have any comments or questions regarding UND’s restart plans, please contact the appropriate individual(s) below.
- Andrew Armacost, President’s Office
- Jennifer Berger, Emergency Management
- Les Bjore, Facilities Management
- DeAnna Carlson Zink, Alumni Association & Foundation
- Michele Carroll, Academic Affairs
- William Chaves, Athletics
- Scott Correll, Registrar’s Office
- Jessica Doty, Student Health Services
- Rosy Dub, Student Health Services
- Robert Frasier, Finance & Operations
- Suzanne Gandrud, Student Affairs
- Lynette Geatz, Student Affairs
- Cassie Gerhardt, Student Affairs
- Cara Halgren, Student Affairs
- Mark Hoffmann, Arts & Sciences
- Mark Johnson, Facilities Management
- Michael Lefever, Emergency Management
- Meloney Linder, Marketing & Communications
- Madhavi Marasinghe, University IT
- Erik Martinson, Athletics
- John Mihelich, Research & Economic Development
- Karla Mongeon-Stewart, Finance & Operations
- Troy Noeldner, Housing
- Bradley Parrish, School of Law
- Mike Pieper, Facilities Management
- Eric Plummer, Public Safety
- Alex Pokornowski, Student Rights & Responsibilities
- Orlynn Rosaasen, Dining Support Services
- Jed Shivers, Finance & Operations
- Debbie Storrs, Academic Affairs
- Jana Thompson, Procurement & Payment Services
- Peggy Varberg, Human Resources & Payroll
- Heather Wages, Academic Affairs
- Cheri Williams, President’s Office
- Joshua Wynne, Medicine & Health Sciences
- Terrance Wynne, Safety