Operational costs at the State University of New York at Fredonia have gone up due to COVID-19.

During a semester “pretty much dominated by COVID,” State University of New York at Fredonia President Stephen Kolison reported a hefty price tag associated with the virus that topped $1 million.

“We saw a significant impact on students and staff,” Kolison told College Council earlier this month. “It also impacted student life and residential life … However, operational costs have gone up because of COVID, We had to spend a lot of money on protective equipment to keep things safe so that students can have a healthy place to come to school and people to work.”

A question was asked about reimbursement for those costs from the state, which brought little optimism from Kolison. “So far there’s nothing on the table for reimbursement,” he said. We’re keeping accurate records just in case we have to demonstrate what we actually spent, but so far it’s coming out of our budget.”

In total for the fall semester, the university conducted 8,012 COVID tests on students and another 1,351 tests on employees. As of Dec. 7, 209 students tested positive — 83 on campus and 126 off — with 496 students quarantine due to contact tracing. The bill for that alone was more than $200,000.

“By the time this year ends we’ll have probably spent about $1.4 million in just dealing with COVID,” Kolison said.

OBSERVER file photo State University of New York at Fredonia, despite COVID-19, finished the fall semester.

Regardless, the newly appointed president was happy though as the school was able to remain open from late August to mid November to educate students while keeping people safe. “I can’t say enough to the faculty and staff and the students too, the students did their part and so I would say we had a successful semester,” Kolison commended.

Building on his comments from the meeting Kolison sent a letter out to students and staff Wednesday adding that the Reopening Steering Committee and several subcommittees planned for spring.

“Last week, we submitted our Spring 2021 plan to SUNY, and the system has given its approval,” Kolison wrote. “I wanted to point out a few highlights: for you to be aware of. Move-in for most residential students will take place Jan. 30-Feb. 2; classes begin Feb. 3.

“Approximately 72% of classes have some face-to-face component,” he said. Students will be expected to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus.There are still some details that need to be worked out. For that reason, I will be communicating with you as frequently as needed between now and the start of classes.

“We will also be updating information on our series of web pages designated for the spring semester: www.fredonia.edu/spring2021. Please refer to the pages, along with informational pages dedicated to COVID-19 and overall health and wellness, for the latest information for students, employees, and the community. Our plan and the plan’s approval from SUNY system are both available there.”