Faculty Perceptions of Cleanliness and Safety on a College Campus During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many institutions – one of which is Kennesaw State University (KSU). In the Fall 2020 semester, KSU implemented safety protocols following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the University System of Georgia (USG) guidelines. A cross-sectional survey was disseminated for faculty to complete at their own will regarding their thoughts on how the new guidelines are affecting their work as well as their safety while on campus. The survey consisted of 18 Likert-scale questions and eight free-response questions. The survey results showed that 60.42% of faculty members reported that they were trained regarding their new work requirements and that while faculty generally felt safe, they had concerns about specific areas on campus. As most classes across the KSU campus were forced to become fully online classes, faculty reported that their relationships with students changed as their class modalities changed. KSU faculty and students alike tried their best to adjust to the new environment and will continue to do so to promote safety and stop the spread of COVID- 19.