The UTEP Athletics department announced a reentry plan for student athletes starting with the return to campus for voluntary workouts beginning June 15, as announced by Director of Athletics Jim Senter.

Student athletes will return in phases starting with the first group of student athletes stemming from the football program with approximately 45 players returning according to a press release by UTEP Athletics. Gradually the number of football players returning will increase in June and July.

“It is important for us to bring student-athletes back to campus in a thoughtful and deliberate fashion, one that ensures we are following best practices and meeting Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention (CDC) guidelines for the sake of everyone’s health and safety,” Senter said in a press release.

Programs including cross-country, soccer and volleyball will be integrated for voluntary workouts with a limited number of student athletes beginning the week of June 22. Men’s and women’s basketball and track and field will be integrated and hold voluntary workouts with a limited number of student athletes starting the week of June 29.

Student-Athletes from the remaining programs will be able to return to UTEP for voluntary workouts starting the week of July 6.

“We know that until a vaccine is developed, we will have to live with the virus and must learn to mitigate the risk of catching it,” Senter said in a press release. Bringing Miner student-athletes back to campus is a huge step toward achieving some sense of normalcy.”

Certain precautions have been set in place to ensure the safety of the student athletes is a priority. Before UTEP student athletes can return to campus, an online questionnaire must be completed with questions asking if they have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms over the past three months.

Student athletes will be screened daily before entering the facilities and be split into groups to ensure social distancing is being practiced as well as wear face masks when inside all athletic facilities. A mandatory physical must be completed before beginning voluntary workouts.

Following the National Collegiate Athletic Association rules strength and condition and sports medicine personal are the only individuals allowed to observe voluntary workouts. Coaches and staff, as well as media members, are not allowed to attend voluntary workouts.

Isaiah Ramirez may be reached at [email protected]