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Classroom Spaces

The University is assessing campus spaces and reconfiguring in-person course instruction to support compliance with the University Guideline on Physical Distancing, University Guidelines on Face Masks and other health and safety measures as recommended by public health officials. When indoors, all individuals must wear a face mask and maintain 6 feet of physical distance in accordance with these guidelines. Some University buildings may have alternate or additional facility-specific requirements.

The University has developed wayfinding and circulation plans to facilitate physical distancing and efficient navigation through campus buildings. Buildings will have designated entrances and exits and one-way pedestrian traffic flow where feasible. Classroom seating is being reconfigured to be consistent with the University’s 6 foot physical distancing guidance and in all classrooms, there will be a minimum of 6 feet between the instructor and first row of students.

The University is installing directional and facility use signage in campus classroom buildings to support these wayfinding and physical spacing plans. Signage should not be moved, modified or removed. Signage is installed to remind building occupants to consistently observe physical distancing. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will be expected to comply with all directional and facility use signage as outlined below.

In case of an emergency event, building occupants should utilize all available exit routes and disregard wayfinding signage.
Classroom seating will be reconfigured to support physical distancing. Classrooms with moveable furniture or workstations will be arranged to implement 6 feet spacing between seating. Fixed seating will be marked to indicate permittable seating. Students should not move workstations to reduce spacing or utilize seats that are not marked as available.

Instructor technology stations or podiums will be arranged to provide for a 6 foot buffer zone between the instructor and the first row of students.

Faculty, staff and students are required to wear face masks while in University buildings, including in all in-person classroom settings. Face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be available in each academic building and classroom. Upon entry into a classroom, students and instructors will be expected to use a disinfectant wipe to clean their workstations.

In lecture halls or classrooms with a single entry door, students arriving first should move to the farthest seat available. At the end of class, students should leave the room beginning with the person closest to the exit door.

Classrooms with multiple entrances will have designated entry and exit doors.

Students must leave classrooms and the building promptly at the end of their class session so that the next class session can begin on time. Arriving students should wait for students from previous class sessions to exit before entering classrooms.

Buildings will have designated entrance and exit points. Building entrance points will be marked to direct students to specific entry doors, floors and classrooms via the shortest route possible.

Building entrances, lobbies and corridors will be marked as “one-way traffic only” and directional signage will be installed on doors, floor and walls. In wide hallways and in the case of a dead-end corridor, traffic flow will be designated as two-way. In buildings with multiple stairwells, stairs will be designated and signed as “entrance only” or “exit only.”

Elevators will be restricted to one rider at a time and will be signed for those with accessibility needs. In buildings with research laboratories or specialized instructional spaces, faculty and staff may use elevators to move equipment while classes are in session or outside of instructional hours.

Accessible building access and wayfinding will be maintained and marked in accordance with University guidelines. People with accessibility concerns or accommodation requests should contact Accessibility Resources and Service (students) or Equal Opportunity and Compliance (faculty and staff) for additional information.