Embry-Riddle Continues to Enhance Health Precautions

With a goal to prevent the spread of the novel 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) on our campuses or in our communities, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is continuing to ramp up its already stringent health precautions through intensive communication, disinfection protocols and temperature checks for all students, faculty, staff and visitors.

As you know from President Butler’s March 13 announcement, the university has extended Spring Break through next Tuesday, with classes resuming mostly online so that students can choose to complete their coursework from home beginning March 18, through at least April 6.

Students in certain programs with federal requirements for in-person instruction (e.g., flight training and Aviation Maintenance Science) have been given the option to continue studying on Embry-Riddle’s two residential campuses – but only after they pass risk screenings and agree to follow all prevention protocols.

We are continuing to work diligently and continuously to promote good health. Those efforts include these and many other steps:

• As part of our pre-screening process, all students, faculty and staff have been repeatedly reminded that anyone who has been on a cruise ship or in an international location must self-isolate for 14 days, in keeping with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and the U.S. State Department’s global Level 3 health advisory. These individuals cannot return to our campuses at this time.
• Students as well as all faculty and staff will be expected to have non-invasive temperature checks prior to entering Embry-Riddle facilities. Embry-Riddle personnel are using the same no-contact temperature instruments now being widely used in airports and on cruise ships. Combined with a risk-assessment questionnaire developed by our health and wellness team, temperature checks are an essential way that we can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Faculty and staff are being encouraged to complete their work from home if feasible, or use personal leave, which has been expanded to support employees during the global health crisis.
• Procedures for swiftly isolating any individuals at risk have been put into place, along with university travel restrictions.
• Educational equipment, including aircraft, must undergo frequent disinfection. We have increased the availability of hand sanitizers, and to promote good hand hygiene, we have launched a communication campaign on both campuses.

Embry-Riddle’s award-winning Worldwide Campus, which has ranked among the nation’s top five online educators for seven consecutive years, yesterday announced the closure of 12 physical locations. All other Embry-Riddle Worldwide locations remain open, and the university overall is continuing to serve some 33,500 students through interactive online educational experiences.