COVID-19, Reopening, and the Role of IR
Concerns about returning to in-person instruction and campus life in fall 2020 in light of COVID-19 remain at the forefront of higher education news. The conversations, planning, strategizing, contingency modeling, and decision making that happen behind the scenes are extensive at every level. For many in academia, work hinges on what feels like a perpetual unknown. Yet, higher education professionals continue to fulfill missions and meet goals to educate students and support student success. In a recent AIR survey, we found that subsequent outbreaks of COVID-19, loss of enrollment if courses are online only, liability related to COVID-19 exposure, access to COVID-19 testing supplies, and capacity to conduct contact tracing are top concerns.