ENMU ramping up for partial return

PORTALES — The spring 2021 semester at Eastern New Mexico University will look much like the spring 2020 semester finished — with a largely empty campus intended to limit the spread of COVID-19.

But there is some portion of in-person classes returning this semester when the college begins its new term on Jan. 19.

Monday marked the first day for employees to return to campus.

“It was wonderful to see people after the holiday,” Chancellor Patrice Caldwell said in response to questions from The News.

“Even in virtual meetings, we kept saying how great it was to see each other. Some of our out-of-state students are back (completing their 14-day quarantine). Even in a pandemic, we still celebrate a return to campus.”

Caldwell said there is much to be grateful about with brighter vaccine possibilities. During the December ENMU regents meeting, Caldwell was optimistic a more normal semester could happen in the fall.

Faculty is set to return Tuesday to prepare for courses that will still largely be taught virtually, with ENMU officials anticipating 20% of students will take some level of in-person classes.

There are 96 courses listed on the ENMU catalog that are face-to-face, though about a dozen are one-credit courses for varsity student-athletes in their respective sports.

Classrooms that do have face-to-face instruction will be limited to 50% occupancy, and most of those classes will enroll less than 25 students.

The university website includes COVID-safe protocols far longer than this article, including requiring face coverings for all students, faculty and staff. Faculty may remove their masks to teach, provided they are in a “delineated teaching area” at least 10 feet from students.

The university's human resources office has provided a “work from home” request form on the school website. The requests would be for employees who are 65 or older or have an underlying medical condition, or have a household family member who meets that criteria. It notes that not returning to work because of general fear of COVID-19 is not considered adequate cause.

On-campus housing is currently limited to West Campus Apartments, which has 68 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom units. All but 15 were committed as of Monday, and those should be assigned by the end of the week.

Opening up other on-campus housing is problematic, since the university is not offering on-campus dining this semester and no other facility has individual living areas with full kitchens.

“We think that is an important issue for students,” Caldwell said.

“ENMU remains open to considering any possibility that students need or that the campus community requires.”

Operations remain open in varying degrees. For example, the Golden Student Success Center remains open to students and staff at 25% capacity, but on-campus mail is pickup only and most services will be handled virtually or in limited circumstances by appointment.

“It's not the spring we hoped for,” Caldwell said. “But every day brings us close to the university we all want to return to.”