Aultcare Gives Stamp of Approval during Final Tour of Walsh

Among its many strengths, Walsh University can count community partnerships as one of its most essential. This has been true now more than ever as the University has concentrated its resources during the summer months in preparing the campus to safely welcome students, faculty and staff. Walsh University would like to thank community partners Aultman and AultCare along with members of the Autcare Essential Workforce Solutions team for their insight, input and expertise in helping to create an environment that will maintain CAV Nation’s sense of community, while ensuring that new safety protocols and procedures implemented on campus will help to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Aultcare’s Essential Workforce Solutions (EWS) team made a visit for the second time to Walsh University on Tuesday, August 4, to review the progress Walsh had made toward addressing safety protocols and preparedness for the campus reawakening.  The EWS team along with members of Walsh’s administration and Walsh’s COVID-19 response team, Task Force Lazarus, toured Walsh’s facilities and grounds and were generally impressed with all that has been put in place.

“All of the hard work, time, and teamwork that has been put into making Walsh University safer for the faculty and students was evident as we toured the campus,” said Michael Novelli, Vice President at Aultcare.  “Walsh has done a fantastic job assessing and implementing social distancing, particularly in the classroom.”

Additional praise was given for the following:

• Staggered student arrival in advance of classes starting
• Plan established for synchronous online learning
• Reduced class sizes using the 6 foot rule
• Cleaning supplies in classrooms for students to use at their desks
• Using the 6 foot rule, most public and shared spaces are socially distant
• Excess furniture has been put in storage to encourage social distancing
• Use of Plexiglas and other physical barriers throughout the facilities
• Masks required inside the buildings
• Masks are available for students that do not bring their own
• Marketing program has been created to reinforce healthy behaviors across campus
• Student Campus Safety Ambassadors will encourage healthy behavior around campus
• A COVID-19 Response Team (Task Force Lazarus) was formed to work closely with the administration
• The campus bookstore offers pick-up and delivery options for students
• Some student workout facilities remain closed
• Athletes are practicing in small groups
• The EWS team advised that extra precautions be taken during high risk activities such as choir and band practice and to ensure that items such as library books rest for 3-4 days in between check outs. They expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this very critical initiative for the safety and well-being of the Walsh campus community.