University of Alabama In Huntsville Adapting

WAAY 31’s Pat Simon is joined by University of Alabama in Huntsville president Dr. Darren Dawson to show how UAH and other colleges are adjusting their plans and practices due to coronavirus.

To adapt for the future.

>> pat simon: dr. dawson, thank you so much for joining us today >> it's great to be here tai.d thanks for having me.

>> pat simon: you bet.

Before we talk about what's happening for students this fall , give us an idea about potential financial losses to the u.a.

System, most specifically how it's going to impact u.a.h.

P.

>> yeah, so we'll concentrate on u.a.h.

What we've done so far as far as trying to reimmediate mediate the financial situation is we've implemented a hiring freeze and that will save substantial money and we've also really have a heightened review of stress discretionary spending, gone down to the 1,000 level that's evaluated at the v.p.

Level.

That's going to save substantial money.

And also yesterday, and this will be a system, u.a.

System wide thing that we'll do, is we've eliminated contribution to the retirement, the 403b plan.

We're looking right now at probably somewhere for u.a.h.

Between a 2 and $5 million reduction in revenue.

That will depend on what happens at state level and fall enrollment.

>> pat simon: we're going to continue to follow that.

Let's talk about the big news for students at p students at u.

A.

A.h.

Expected to head back to the classroom this fall.

What are the plans to move forward with that plan?

>> what we're doing, you think about this for the fall and you have two book ends.

The one book end is completely normal, okay?

And one book end is continuing on with online education.

What we hope to do is do something in between.

It might have a modality of a flip type classroom where some of the instruction is done, continued to be done online and we'll have some online laboratories sessions.

We try to use social distancing protocols that will be developed by task forces led by u.a.b.

And we're involved in that.

So right now, as our chancellor said yesterday, we're planning on having face-to-face classes throughout the u.a.

System and that certainly includes u.a.h.

>> pat simon: the return to school for the fall could change , right?

What could change that decision?

>> well, you know, basically if, you know, obviously what -- how things could work out is if the pandemic had a second wave sometime in july or august.

But if you look at the numbers and you look at what's really happening, you do see the pandemic is starting to go -- become under control nationally and obviously in this area of the country, north alabama, we haven't really seen the explosion of cases, especially in the madison county area.

>> pat simon: you were just talking, dr. dawson, about this kind of hybrid distance learning and a blended on on-campus learning kind of thing.

What about for those students who are somewhat reluctant to return physically to campus?

Is there kind of a permanent alternative like a distance learning to continue for them?

>> absolutely.

That's why we're -- we are telling our faculty, that's a great point you brought up, that's why we're telling our faculty to be prepared for online modality in the fall.

Because we -- that way we can do it is we could have those students who prefer not to come back still take classes from their home or their apartment or wherever and participate on campus in classes with the online courses.

So the idea again is to have some hyper modality where we'll be able to teach online as well as some limited face-to-face observing social distancing protocols.

>> pat simon: and i know, dr. dawson, you were mentioning a little bit about what we could expect for students and faculty when they return to campus this fall.

Give us a little bit more of an idea of some of the protections that will be put into place, any facemasks, those types of protections for those people on campus.

>> again, we're fortunate to have -- be part of the u.a.

System and leverage off the expertise at u.a.b.

So u.a.b.

Is putting together a task force led by medical professionals who will give us protocols and procedures that could include facemasks, testing , temperature testing and also possibly testing for the virus as well as other protocols related to cleaning classrooms and daily cleanings of supplies, using supplies to clean laboratories and classrooms and other facilities like the fitness senter and the union.

>> pat simon: got a few seconds to go.

What's your big message for these students a lot of them you haven't seen face-to-face.

What's your message for them?

>> really to stay safe and we miss you.

We want to have you back in the fall.

And we look forward for you continuing your education at u.

A.h.

This fall.

>> pat simon: absolutely.

We in the meantime appreciate you coming on today, dr. darren dawson the president of the university of alabama in huntsville.

Thank you so