Alpha Chapter Announces Fall Semester Move-In Schedule and Plan
As you might be aware, Miami University announced a change to the fall semester class delivery and move-in schedule. While all classes will still begin on August 17, all undergraduate classes will be delivered remotely with the resumption of face-to-face instruction starting on September 21. As a result, Miami University has delayed the beginning of the fall semester phased move-in schedule for all on-campus undergraduate students until September 14. They have also given students the option to take all their classes remotely and not return to campus during the fall semester. The rationale behind making this late change was to minimize the risk and to reduce the exposure to COVID-19 by decreasing the density of the on-campus student population while also ensuring the retention of their students.
While we also want to minimize the risk and reduce the exposure to COVID-19 among our members. We also believe that it is critically important that we don’t deprive our members of their personal skills development provided by the fraternal experience at the Alpha Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, which has already been truncated by the early closure of the chapter during the spring semester due to COVID-19. Our young men need to continue their personal skills development and to continue to create their bonds of brotherhood as well as their sense of community and belonging provided by their fraternal experience.
As a result, we will be re-opening the chapter house as initially scheduled, starting on August 13. We have put in place all the necessary protocols as described below to ensure the health and safety of our members. We believe that by initially opening up the chapter house 4-5 weeks before the return of Miami’s on-campus undergraduate students and by having our members taking their classes remotely, that it will reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure due to the significantly reduced student population while enhancing and accelerating personal skills development. Their bonds of brotherhood and their sense of community and belonging among the chapter’s membership.
Updated Chapter House Move In Plan and COVID-19 Protocols
Chapter House Move In Plan:
We are excited about the return of the Men of the Alpha Chapter to their Home at 200 East High Street. Despite Miami University ‘s recent announcements, we have not changed our plans to re-open/move-in to the chapter house starting at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 13. Because of the need for social distancing and the limited parking space to unload each member’s personal belongings, this year, we plan to schedule the house move-in beginning on August 13 thru August 16 from 10:00 am-6:00 pm. The chapter’s VP of Housing, Zach Williams, will be contacting each member to schedule their move in time and date. Our move-in plan will provide for a safe and orderly move-in process. The chapter house and food service will remain open through Thanksgiving and the end of the semester’s final exams for those members who choose to stay on campus through final exams.
COVID-19 Protocols:
We have put in place the following COVID-19 protocols that comply with CDC and State and Local health and safety guidelines
Cleaning and Sanitation Protocol:
We will be following CDC guidelines for the cleaning and sanitation for all the common areas (i.e., dining room, bathrooms, living room, etc.) within the house and have ordered ample cleaning and sanitation supplies for the entire fall semester. We have hired a full-time housekeeper to provide daily cleaning and sanitation of all the common areas within the house. All members will continue to be responsible for the cleaning and disinfecting of their rooms, and there will be hand sanitizers and disinfectant sprays or wipes placed in all the common spaces throughout the house.
Food Service Protocol:
We will be following the State of Ohio and Butler County Health Department guidelines for food service, which has yet to be fully defined. However, all our dinners will be plated or covered plated and will not be served buffet style, and all self-serve lunches will be pre-prepared and pre-wrapped. We have hired an additional part-time kitchen staff member to assist in the increase in the food preparation required in foodservice.
Quarantine Protocol:
Per Miami University’s quarantine guidelines for off-campus students, we have set up our chapter room and bathroom in our basement as our quarantine facility if one of our live-in members is diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus requiring quarantining. The House Director will provide meals and assistance. Alternatively, Miami University may also offer a dedicated quarantine facility depending on availability, or our live-in member could quarantine at his home residence if practical.
