SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego State University has instituted new protocols to keep the coronavirus from spreading on campus.
Dr. Luke Wood, Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, said they hired security to patrol the campus from Thursday through Sunday after hours, document policy violations, and send reports to staff who handle disciplinary action.
"There are real consequences now of our COVID-19 policies, and that can range from a warning, to suspension to even in extreme cases, expulsion," Wood said.
He said they also have a wellness ambassador program they hope to expand to 50 personnel, "so that when students come on campus physically they are being greeted and welcomed to the campus. They're reminded of our policies around wearing face-masks, around social distancing."
Wood said he wants to make sure SDSU doesn't join the growing list of colleges with outbreaks.
"We're doing everything that's within our power to make sure that we don't follow in others' footsteps," he said. "It's demonstrating we take this very seriously."
Only a third of students (about 2,600) are living on campus this year, according to Wood.
In-person classes have been cut from thousands to 202. The rest of the classes are held online.
Caryl Montero-Adams, Director of Student Life and Leadership, says the policies highlight the very real threat the virus still poses on and off campus.
"There are other real consequences to COVID-19 in and of itself, and we want to ensure that we're focused again on the health and safety of our campus community and that our students are aware of where they fit in with that," said Montero-Adams.