Students and staff at SUNY Maritime College are returning to classes with a new safety protocol in place for the spring semester. 

Back in the fall, the college was doing random testing. Now, under a statewide SUNY reopening plan, all students, staff and faculty must be tested once a week for the coronavirus. 

Students were also required to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus-- an additional safety protocol for the college community. 

In-person instruction began on Monday. Meanwhile, administrators say that conducting weekly COVID tests will not only reduce school closings but also prevent any delays for cadets who want to spend their semester at sea.