The National Governors Association said various states’ governors should set out a clear public health framework that can be implemented alongside college and university reopening efforts.
In a letter to governors, the association said states should have an inclusive approach when planning to reopen. They should acknowledge the diverse higher education sectors, different institutional planning needs and the nature of student behavior when considering opening college campuses. Governors should also make sure there is alignment with the public health metrics of the communities where colleges and universities are located.
The association recommended that governors could look to Connecticut’s framework to develop state-specific strategies. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont created the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group last month. On May 6, the advisory group’s higher education committee released the nation’s first statewide framework for reopening institutions of higher education, the governors association said.
“Reopening higher education institutions will be a critically important and high-profile step for governors who are working to get their state economies back on track,” the let said. “This process will involve complex legal questions for which governors should provide clear guidance.”
