BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

SUNY colleges in Canton and Potsdam will have more than 200 students remaining on the two campuses.

SUNY Canton anticipated about 30 students returning to campus over the weekend.

A total of 135 students are approved to live on campus for the semester, the majority of those students never left the North Country, Greg Kie, a spokesman for the college said.

At SUNY Potsdam 90 students have been approved to stay on campus.

“We only have 90 students who have been approved to remain in the residence halls based on these exceptions, the majority of whom are already here and haven’t left since Spring Break first began. For context, we had about 2,000 students in our residence halls at the beginning of the semester,” Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, a spokeswoman for SUNY Potsdam said. “SUNY Potsdam did have a chartered College Express bus which was going to bring approved students back from Albany, Long Island and New York City, either to return or to pack their things. This bus has been canceled by the company due to changing restrictions on travel.”

Wilke said all students who are returning to campus from other areas of the state or other areas of concern, or who start experiencing symptoms, will be required to complete 14-day self-isolation periods upon arrival to campus.

“They are being housed in single rooms with individual bathrooms, and will be served meals in a common area. They are not allowed to leave campus during this time, unless there is an approved medical need, and no guests are allowed in the residence halls. Student Health Services will be providing them with thermometers so they can track their temperature, and will be in touch with them about what symptoms to watch for and what to do if they don’t feel well,” she said.

At Canton, Kie said precautions are being taken as well.

“We are dedicated to protecting the safety of all of our students, faculty and staff, in addition to the greater community. We’ve strongly encouraged students to seek alternative housing arrangements as they complete the semester remotely. This was done to decrease population density and minimize the risk of transference. Students returning from high-risk areas will be advised to self-quarantine,” Kie said.

“With the support of the State University of New York System, we have allowed students on campus under very limited circumstances. Only international students, students who have no other safe place to go, and those who must be on campus for essential coursework will be allowed to return to the residence halls. We have greatly reduced the on-campus population by moving all coursework, including labs, to a remote format.”