UT System Chancellor Tours UTEP to Learn About Campus’ Preparations for Fall Semester

Last Updated on August 13, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published August 13, 2020

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

J.B. Milliken, Chancellor of The University of Texas System, visited UTEP Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, where he viewed campus preparations for the fall semester, including UTEPs proactive testing program.

J.B. Milliken, Chancellor of The University of Texas System, visited UTEP Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, where he viewed campus preparations for the fall semester, including UTEPs proactive testing program. Photo by JR Hernandez / UTEP Communications

“I am quite impressed,” Chancellor Milliken said. “UTEP has really thought about all of the things that need to be done to make this as safe an environment as it can be.”

Chancellor Milliken observed training and COVID-19 testing of athletes and university staff that started this week through the University’s proactive coronavirus testing program.

The program will test as many on-campus students, faculty and staff as possible through the first two weeks of the semester, then continue testing up to 500 people per day through December. The intention is to identify and suppress the spread of coronavirus on campus.

“Chancellor Milliken wanted to make sure we were getting all the support we need, and it was great to have him here to see what we are doing to prepare for the fall semester,” President Wilson said. “Our COVID-19 testing program will help keep UTEP safer, but it’s also good for the community around us – another way UTEP is ‘in service to Texas.’”

“The capacity that the institution has to be able to do its own testing, both as required by the NCAA for athletes but also for students and faculty, and continuing to test those who are asymptomatic so that they can get ahead of any outbreak, is a terrific capacity that not many institutions have available,” Chancellor Milliken said.

UTEP President Heather Wilson and other senior leaders guided Chancellor Milliken on a socially distanced tour, where he learned more about proactive campus testing, athlete safety, technology enhancements, socially distanced campus operations, and student support.

The UT System, which comprises 14 academic and health institutions, including UTEP, will offer courses this fall in a hybrid format, with some classes online and some in-person.

During the fall semester, UTEP will allow people to work and study remotely when they can.  About 75% of UTEP course sections will be taught remotely in the fall and only 5% fully face-to-face.

Under a theme of “Miners take care of Miners,” UTEP is building a collective commitment to use best health practices all the time. Chancellor Milliken observed signage and procedures in place at UTEP to promote prevention of the spread of disease. Moreover, classrooms and public spaces have been modified to make UTEP a very safe place to be for those who cannot work or study remotely.

To learn more about how the campus will ensure safety as some classes and operations transition back to campus, visit utep.edu/recovery.