Mumbai: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai has introduced a special schedule for students on campus in adherence to COVID-19 protocols. From wearing of masks to social distancing, the LEED platinum rated campus in Asia has prepped and trained their support and administration staff completely to resume classes for undergraduate and post-graduate students on the Chennai campus in line with Tamil Nadu government’s consent.

Students have been moved to different blocks to ensure a gathering of maximum five people at a time in each place. Additionally, hand sanitizers have been placed across the campus and security staff has been deployed to monitor the strict obedience towards social distancing norms by students as well as the staff.

Dr. Bala V Balachandran – Founder, Chairman & Dean (Emeritus), said, “Great Lakes has always been a first-mover. Whether it is in designing an innovative, industry-relevant course curriculum or giving students a once in a lifetime experience with ‘Term Zero’ during the pandemic. Similarly, we were one of the first institutes to safely implement the government’s guidelines in reopening the campus to our students while ensuring the safety and well-being of our admin. staff, faculty, and students. Right from installing plexi-glass in our classrooms with strict social distancing norms to frequently testing students and staff on campus, we have been successful in creating a bio-bubble on the Great Lakes LEED Platinum rated campus. Our students are delighted to finally experience campus-life and in-class learning from our world-renowned faculty.” 

The institute has ensured that classrooms, common areas, kitchen, and recreational areas are regularly sanitized. Every day supplies including milk packets, vegetables, stationary is thoroughly sanitized at the campus entrance before allowed inside. A special training program was also organized for the janitors to ensure effective implementation of cleaning and safety.

Hostel rooms have been converted to single occupancy and day scholars are encouraged to use their own transport to ensure safety and well-being of personnel on the campus. Spaced out timings have been implemented between the class schedules and attendance is not mandatory for the students.

Speaking on the occasion, Anisha Dhawan – Student, PGPM Class of 2021, from Pune, said “The transition from virtual to offline has been seamless. Be it the SOPs followed after a complete 10-month shutdown or vendor management within campus, a streamlined approach was followed while maintaining social distancing norms. Great Lakes has managed to turn this crisis into an opportunity and sets an example on how to have a sustainable business continuity plan.”

Mr. Subhash K, Associate Director- Administration, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai said, “We welcome the State Government’s decision to allow reopening of colleges and universities in a staggered phase for the students. It has almost been eleven months since the pandemic first struck and with the government’s help it is time for us to embrace the new normal. We have had preparations in place for the reopening in advance and urge the students, faculty and staff to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines put in place for everyone’s safety. We are hopeful that we will see a steady increase in students coming back to the campus in the coming months on their own. We want to reassure the families of parents that GLIM has taken every necessary precaution to create a safe environment in the institute. We welcome our staff and students and let’s ensure that learning takes a precedence over the pandemic this year.”