PASCO COUNTY, Fla. -- Nearly 1,000 college freshmen woke up early Tuesday to move into their new home at Saint Leo University.
“It will be the second-largest enrollment in Saint Leo history,” said Dr. Melanie Storms, senior vice president.
It’s also the first freshmen move-in day during the coronavirus pandemic, which is impacting every college and university across the country.
Saint Leo faculty and staff spent the summer making changes and implementing new COVID-19 policies to make sure students are safe on campus.
“I'm glad they’re enforcing the masks, temperature checks,” Angeria Savory said. “I feel really secure about that.”
Savory is moving her niece Tayhana Taylor in from Jamaica. This is her first time away from home without family.
“I’m anxious, excited and ready,” Taylor said.
She realizes, because of COVID-19, her freshmen experience won’t be the same but acknowledges that “health is the most important thing.”
Some key changes you need to know about:
- Everyone must wear a mask on campus.
- The university offers online and in-person courses this year, to keep the number of people in a classroom down.
- Everyone must be at least six feet apart at all times.
- The university has an app for students and staff to monitor their health. Everyone is required to use it.
- There will be daily temperature checks at the dinning halls and other big campus wide events.
“I’m staying positive about all of this,” said Taylor. “You’re here to have fun, but you have to do with precaution."
The school has worked out a quarantine plan if a student tests positive for the virus on campus. They have extra rooms set aside, as well as a partnership with a nearby hotel if needed.