The fall semester opened Monday at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, but with quite a few changes from past years.
Spokesman Craig DeVrieze says during the summer the university worked with an architect and a furniture supplier to arrange classes to allow for social distancing.
"Classes that are large enough that we need to split them in half will be hybrid - one day students will attend class in person and get the face-to-face that they're looking for, the next day or the next class session those students will be learning online and vice versa."
All students will wear masks and teachers will wear face shields.
DeVrieze says students and staff will be required to answer a health assessment every day, and free tests will be provided by Community Health Care. Saint Ambrose also hopes to host a Test Iowa site soon.
"What we want students to understand is that it's going to be up to them to keep our doors open for the fall. Otherwise when necessary we will certainly return to contingency learning - the contingency of distance learning much as we did last spring."
Students and staff have also been asked to agree to the Be Safe, Be Responsible Promise - a commitment to face coverings, social distancing, and careful hygiene.
