By 1808Delaware
One by one, local and regional school districts and institutions of higher learning are adopting public health protocols to guide students, staff, and visitors as the new academic year nears.
This is nowhere more true than at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO), south of Delaware. There, the curriculum will be delivered both in person and online — with a clear line between the two.
President Jay Rundell recently shared plans to “…move toward the robust campus experience we cherish at MTSO, including in-person classes and events.” He added, “But for unexpected circumstances or developments, the MTSO curriculum will be available both on campus and remotely beginning this fall and for the foreseeable future.”
The school has taken valuable lessons learned during the last academic year and is applying them proactively.
“The pandemic has taught us that we can expect some flexibility in the work environments,” Rundell said in an email to the campus community. “But the good work of our institution is best served when we work in community. I look forward to once again being in community with employees and students.”
All students are required to read and acknowledge a new version of the MTSO Campus Extend approach, which provides a hybrid model of instruction.
All students must be fully vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes, reside on campus or be present on campus for any reason at any time. Unvaccinated students are prohibited from participating off campus in in-person meetings or public events at which they are recognized as or understood to be participating as MTSO students.
For those who qualify, some provisions will be made for a blending of on-campus and remote work, with an emphasis on bringing students, faculty and staff together on the busiest academic days of the week. All employees, along with all students who wish to participate on campus, are required to provide proof of vaccination.
The protocols and other information regarding the school’s ongoing response to the pandemic is online at www.mtso.edu/covid-19.
