More colleges and universities have announced plans to reopen their campuses in the fall, including Purdue, North Carolina State, and Michigan State. Most American colleges and universities were forced to shut down their campuses in March to mitigate the spread of the Chinese virus, and some, like Boston University, have suggested that campuses would remain closed until 2021.
According to a report by the College Fix, several colleges and universities around the country have announced plans to reopen their campuses for the fall semester. Many universities, however, have yet to announce their plans for the fall semester. A small group of universities, including Boston University, have suggested that its campus may remain closed for the remainder of the calendar year.
Purdue University announced last week that they plan to reopen their campus for the fall semester. Purdue President Mitch Daniels argued that it is safe to reopen campus because the Chinese virus poses minimal risk to students.
“All data to date tell us that the COVID-19 virus, while it transmits rapidly [among college students], poses close to zero lethal threat to them,” Daniels said.
The University of Portland, Baylor University, North Carolina State, and Michigan State University are amongst the institutions that have also announced plans to reopen in the fall.
Most universities have adopted policies that will restrict social gatherings in the fall. For example, Baylor University President Linda Livingstone said that the standard approaches to student housing and on-campus activities must be reconsidered before students can return to campus.
“It is important to note, however, that we are not planning for a “normal start” of the fall semester, given the lack of a treatment protocol or vaccine for COVID-19. The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and guests must lead our decision-making regarding all activities,” Livingstone said. “We are preparing to adapt our instructional and residential life models and on-campus activities, as needed, to protect our campus community while continuing to offer the distinct on-campus college experience for which Baylor is known.”
Breitbart News reported this week that Brown University President Christina Paxson has announced her plan to reopen Brown for the fall semester. Paxson argued that reopening is only feasible if students cooperate with mandatory limitations on social gatherings.
A few universities claim that they may not reopen their campuses for the fall semester. Breitbart News reported last week that California State University-Fullerton has already announced that fall classes will begin online. Boston University announced earlier in April that its campus may not reopen before January 2021.
Stay tuned to Breitbart News for more updates on this story.