HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – With the fall semester at Montana State University-Northern starting next week, University officials are preparing for the start of the school year.
Chancellor Greg Kegel says after a trying last 18 months, they have reopened the campus up for activities.
“When you come in, all services are available and up and running. The activities on out University calendar are their and we’re planning to open those all up and have as much as a normal school year as we can while at the same time, realizing that we’re dealing every day with the effects of the pandemic and are trying to do all of those things in the most prudent manner that we can do them. Worrying as we do about the safety and welfare of our students, faculty and staff. So it’s a challenge and we’re being challenged by it. But we’re going to try and do the very best that we can.”
Although face coverings will be optional, Kegel says they are recommended.
“What I’m saying with the mask wearing is that if there is any possible worry you have with your own personal safety, you should wear a mask. And we recommend wearing a mask. So we don’t have a mask mandate. But what I did leave in place is where we had the occupancy loads that seemed to work last year, we left them. That would be taking a look at a classroom and saying if we’re going to use a three foot or six foot distance, that’s some of the stuff that’s been laid out by the CDC, we’ll leave those unless we can’t leave them. We’re still doing all of the cleaning and sanitation with hand sanitizers. All of that type of stuff. We’re doing a lot of work with individual groups, individual people and student groups, helping them learn how to care for themselves and be safe. And making recommendations on what you might want to do and consider. So in a nutshell, the big one that we’ve lifted, but the rest of them we’re probably going to leave those in place just for our own safety and security.”
When it comes to athletics, the Frontier Conference is allowing schools to make their own decisions, and Kegel says there will not be capacity restrictions for fans.
However, Northern’s plan remains fluid and can change as determined by the University.
