Universities, like all of aspects of society, have needed to adapt during the current pandemic. Colleges and COVID can create superspreader events, which is why it is essential for college campuses to create additional space for their students. Now they can, with clear span tents.
Several months ago, we thought that COVID-19 would be under control by now. We assumed that colleges would start up in the fall, things would be running smoothly, and knowledge would be flowing as usual.
Well, knowledge is flowing, but in a way that is anything but usual. Colleges and COVID have been an issue throughout the United States. Regardless of any and all precautions taken, the coronavirus has continued to increase and impact all areas of our lives – including life at the many colleges and universities around our country.
Higher education institutions have taken steps, thankfully, to help campus life press forward while keeping students and faculty safe. How are they doing it? Many are taking advantage of the many benefits and abilities that come with clear span structures, aka COVID tents.
Universities, Colleges and COVID: CDC Considerations
There have been many people from all walks of life trying to determine the best way to make it through this worldwide pandemic in a healthy way. The three main points most can agree on are: practicing 6ft social distancing, washing hands often, and wearing a mask.
When it comes to students returning to college campuses, though, the Center for Disease Control has a few additional suggestions to keep everyone safe:
- Avoid placing personal items on public surfaces, such as placing cell phones on desks.
- Wipe down your desk with disinfectant wipes before you sit down.
- Skip seats and/or rows so that you can maintain a physical distance between you and your classmates.
- Avoid sharing items with roommates or classmates.
- Never share food, straws, utensils, and the like with others.
- Avoid self-serve food stations and opt for grab-n-go selections.
- Before you start your day, make sure you have your mask, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitizer with you.
If available, the CDC requests that students choose to attend colleges and universities remotely – or at least as many classes as possible. This cuts down your exposure to others in the classroom.
Learning Structures and Classrooms
Colleges and universities are all about learning so they, of course, will have classrooms galore. However, since they are brick and mortar classrooms, those at capacity can’t very well socially distance, can they? We have learned above that students should be skipping seats or rows to maintain adequate spacing.
One way this can be done is through a tent structure. Designed to be durable and functional, tents can work as temporary classroom space, offering all the perks of an indoor space. From flooring to lighting and all the space imaginable, classrooms can be set up to allow for the recommended guidelines to be met – while still allowing students and professors to focus on education.
Dining Halls
Dining halls are a huge part of campus life. Because many students live on campus, they have to have access to meals. Though with the coronavirus pandemic, gathering in large groups – or any groups at all – is quite discouraged.
Eating together is common. It is that one chance out of a busy day to put down the books and connect with friends over dinner. Due to COVID, colleges and universities have had to make changes to this, as well. Just as restaurants in many cities have reduced capacity or have closed to in-person dining altogether, so have schools. Many have even gone to grab-n-go meals only as the CDC has recommended.
To keep the spirits of students up, many colleges and universities are opting for COVID tents. These clear span structures can allow a dining facility to be larger, more spread out, and very well ventilated. Rather than grabbing a meal and eating it alone in a dorm room, these tents allow for socially distanced dining – allowing students to eat together while not necessarily being together.
Library Space and Study Halls
Students that attend universities require a place to study. For many, it has always been going to the library or study hall. Unfortunately, with COVID, the number of students allowed in these facilities at one time has severely dropped. Think about it – how often do students head to the library and have to search for an open space to sit and study? With space limited, this number is greater.
COVID tents offer the perfect space for these students. Because they can be designed to meet the demand, colleges and universities can offer a socially distanced area for students to hit the books without risk.
Remember – clear span structures can come in all sizes. And they can be large enough to house anyone who needs a place to study. By getting creative with space under the tent, spreading out tables or desks for students to sit at, and investing in an HVAC system to keep the ventilation up, it can all be a nice change of scenery for students.
Giving Back
American Pavilion offers an annual general scholarship for college and university students in the United States. We value the hard work these students put into their future – our future – and want to give something back.
With everything going on in the world around us, it is easy to forget the things that matter. And, here at American Pavilion, we value our youth and we support local colleges and universities – and we want to do our part. But, it is also why we want you to see how important it is for students to have a safe and comfortable place to call home while away at school.
Even though many college-age students tend to go with the flow, it is so important to remember that they are incredibly impacted by this coronavirus pandemic, too. College life is something that people look back on their whole lives – re-living the college experience over and over. It is supposed to bring fond memories, immense grown, and the building of lasting relationships.
COVID is hindering all of this.
With the help of clear span tent structures, colleges and universities can create socially distanced space for students to have a more normal college experience. Those schools, like Purdue University, that have already started implementing this have been very successful.
Give your students the space they deserve. Literally.
