LEWISTON, N.Y. (WKBW) — Many students will be heading to college in a couple weeks. Some, returning and others for the first time.
For administration at Niagara University in Lewison, it’s been a five month, non-stop, constantly evolving process to get the campus COVID safe and student ready.
“Everyone has to do their part so we can make it to the end, that’s the goal,” Adrienne Kasbaum said. Kasbaum is the Director of Student Health and Wellness for Niagara University.
Kasbaum says when students arrive on campus for the first day of classes August 24, they’ll receive a care package with two cloth masks, hand sanitizer, wipes and other sanitation essentials. Students are required to wear masks at all times when not in their dorm room.
“We have refill stations across campus where anyone can refill sanitizer as they need it,” she said.
Out-of-state students from states on New York’s travel advisory list are already quarantining at a nearby hotel. Kasbaum says that hotel has been designated for any students who need to quarantine now or during the school year.
Testing will be available for students, staff and faculty at Niagara through a partnership with WellNow Urgent Care. WellNow staff will be on site every other week doing COVID-19 testing.
Students are also required to full out a daily health screening each day before class.
Social distancing reminders and signs are posted all around campus, and some furniture has been removed from buildings to cut down on density. Niagara even has an app, created by a local developer where students can check the density and capacity of a classroom.
It’s all being done to keep students and staff safe.
“People come here for the experience,” said Kasbaum. “We want to provide that in a safe and healthy way.”
