Preparing to Reopen Campus: How CSP is Protecting Its Campus Community

CSP is busy getting ready for our students to return to campus and we’re so excited about it. While we’re certain our students are excited, too, we also realize there may be questions around what their classroom and campus experience will look like.

Along with our partner Sodexo, we have implemented numerous environmental systems across campus to elevate our cleaning procedures and ensure the environment exceeds CDC and MDH guidelines for face-to-face instruction for the upcoming academic year. 

Here are several environmental systems we are actively utilizing to protect our campus community: 

Treating frequently traveled areas and classrooms with PENETREXX® ANTIMICROBIAL, a non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and environmentally-friendly antimicrobial barrier that shields surfaces from germs and bacteria. The active ingredient in the PENETREXX® ANTIMICROBIAL forms a colorless, odorless, positively-charged polymer, which chemically bonds to the treated surface. This serves as a layer of “electrically charged swords,” so when a microorganism comes in contact with the treated surface, the “quat” or “sword” punctures its cell membrane and the electrical charge shocks the cell. Since nothing is transferred to the now dead cell, the antimicrobial doesn’t lose strength and the sword is ready for the next cell to contact it. 

CSP is utilizing PENETREXX® in addition to our existing elevated sanitizing protocol to prevent buildup of dirt, dead microbes, etc. which could cover the “swords”, prohibiting it from killing microorganisms.

Since the cured microbial is non-volatile, insoluble, and non-leaching, the treatment is designed to last for the life of the treated surface. 

Installing additional HVAC Ionic sanitation units to our air filtration system that delivers clean indoor air that is safe and healthy without producing ozone or other harmful by-products. The system purifies the air by eliminating airborne particulates, odors, and pathogens. In recent ionization testing results, the system demonstrated a 99.4% reduction rate on a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) surface strain within 30 minutes, the first instance in which an air purification company has effectively neutralized SARS-CoV-2.  

In this laboratory study, Aviation Clean Air designed a test to mimic ionization conditions like that of a commercial aircraft’s fuselage. It was determined that at 10 minutes, 84.2% of the virus was inactivated. At 15 minutes, 92.6% of the virus was inactivated, and at 30 minutes, 99.4% of the virus was inactivated.

“We’re grateful to provide another layer of protection for CSP’s campus through our HVAC system,” said Sodexo Operating Engineer John Bodle. “With the addition of these ionic sanitation units, CSP is not only focusing on the cleaning and sanitation of campus but the prevention aspect as well.”

Utilizing Puro UV Disinfection Lighting system to treat classrooms. This intense light treatment takes about 20 minutes and treats entire classrooms with UV light that kills viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This treatment is used when classrooms are not occupied. 

UV light produces electromagnetic energy that can destroy the ability of microorganisms to reproduce by causing photo-chemical reactions in nucleic acids (DNA & RNA). The ultraviolet energy triggers the formation of specific thymine or cytosine dimers in DNA and uracil dimers in NA which causes the inactivation of microbes by causing mutations and/or cell death and failure to reproduce – which means when UV light is shined on bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, it deactivates their DNA which destroys its ability to multiply effectively killing it.

There are numerous benefits to including UV technology to protect campus including the fact that this method is entirely chemical-free.

Disinfecting with SaniSpray HP 65 Sprayer in heavy-traffic areas across campus. This sprayer is designed and built specifically for sanitizing and disinfecting chemicals as well as to deliver consistent coverage. The system is compatible with List N disinfectants that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). In addition, it delivers the proper atomization required to quickly and consistently coat surfaces which allow us to disinfect and sanitize efficiently.

Distributing CSP Disinfectant Kits for use in classrooms and offices campus-wide that include a bottle of disinfectant, paper towels, gloves – all in a handy, portable carrying case so each department and classroom is equipped with the basic supplies needed to keep their areas clean and safe. These kits are designed to be accessible so each student, faculty, and staff member can be empowered to use them during their time in the classroom and on campus.

Each kit contains:

• 1 bottle of Oxivir (cleaner)
• 1 roll of paper towel
• 1 box of gloves
• Safety Data Sheet on how to use Oxivir (lamented document)
• Cleaning Procedures (laminated document)

In addition to these systems, we have implemented physical distancing guidelines for the entry and exit of classrooms, physical distancing within the classroom/lab environment, reconfigured seating arrangements, made hand sanitizer available across campus, and have increased the frequency of campus cleaning.

Other guidelines we are asking our instructors and students to follow to help keep a safe, clean, and healthy classroom environment:

• Classrooms’ ability to be sanitized between each class. Students will have access to wipes and materials to further sanitize their surface/seating space if they would like.
• Students/faculty will adhere to CDC/MDH guidelines on face coverings/masks.
• Students will be asked to sit in the same seating arrangement each day in every class.

For the latest information about the steps CSP is taking to keep our campus community safe, please visit csp.edu/coronavirus.