Johns Hopkins planning for resumption of on-campus activities in 2020

Johns Hopkins University has launched a broad, cross-divisional planning task force that includes multiple workgroups to examine dozens of areas of university activity in order to answer one essential question for students, faculty, and staff: What happens next?

All but essential in-person activities have been suspended on JHU campuses since mid-March amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with most instruction and employee activity happening remotely. In an update to the university community earlier this week, President Ronald J. Daniels and Provost Sunil Kumar said, "The health and safety of our community will remain paramount as we embark on a consultative process to consider our next steps. But we have set for ourselves the goal of resuming suspended in-person educational, clinical, and research activities to the greatest extent possible as soon as it is prudent."

Given the uncertainties about the course of the pandemic we are considering a range of options," they said, "and we are planning a multiphased return during the coming months and into the fall, consistent with government regulations."

Over the next few weeks, the 2020 Planning Task Force will develop and seek feedback on draft guidelines that will be presented to the deans, faculty governance bodies, and university leaders no later than June. Each school, department, and program will use those parameters to develop local protocols for carrying out research and educational activities going forward. The task force will rely on a set of guiding principles to inform its recommendations, and seek input from students, faculty, and staff.

For more information about the planning process, read the full Hub article, here.