Citing increased COVID-19 cases, WVU temporarily moving from in-person classes to online classes
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that West Virginia University was suspending 29 students for not complying with COVID-19 regulations and gathering in large numbers at a super spreader frat party, the university today announced that due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in students, in-person classes are canceled tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8.
Beginning Wednesday, September 9, the majority of in-person undergraduate courses will be taught online for at least two weeks through September 25.
In-person classes will be canceled on West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus Tuesday, Sept. 8. Online classes will continue as usual, as will University operations. Staff and faculty should report to work as usual.
Beginning Wednesday, September 9, all undergraduate courses in Morgantown, with the exception of those Health Sciences courses with students already engaged in clinical rotation, will move online through Friday, September 25. Graduate and professional courses will continue to be offered in person. Additional details regarding this temporary transition were shared in a letter from WVU President E. Gordon Gee.
Research activities and courses already offered online will remain unchanged. Campus operations in Morgantown will continue as planned, unless supervisors indicate otherwise.
This action is being undertaken only on the Morgantown campus. All activities on other WVU campuses and in counties other than Monongalia County will continue as planned.
The change in course delivery is in direct response to a recent increase in positive cases in students on the Morgantown campus, as well as concern for the probability of increased cases following several reports of parties held this holiday weekend where groups should have been in quarantine.
“This pause in face-to-face undergraduate instruction will give us time to monitor the steadily climbing cases of COVID-19,” Dr. Jeffrey Coben, associate vice president of health affairs and dean of the School of Public Health, said. “There is increasing evidence that crowded indoor gatherings, such as those that occurred over the weekend, can serve as super-spreader events.”
WVU placed 29 students on immediate interim suspension yesterday (September 6) amid ongoing COVID-19 investigations. Additional sanctions are pending.
The University continues to work aggressively to identify others attending these large off-campus gatherings and will respond swiftly to bring charges against those found violating the Student Code of Conduct. WVU is also working with local officials to see what other measures can be implemented for those not following the rules.
Though most undergraduate classes will be delivered remotely through Friday, September 25, the University intends to return to on-campus course delivery on Monday, September 28 if conditions allow. WVU will re-evaluate the public health situation on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and advise whether on-campus learning will resume. If it is deemed safe to return, on-campus learning will begin again on Monday, September 28.
“If any students traveled home for the holiday weekend and have their materials to learn remotely, we ask those students to remain where they are right now,” Dean of Students Corey Farris said. “However, we are strongly advising students who did not travel over the weekend to remain in Morgantown during this time. We have every intention of bringing our students back to campus to resume in-person classes, but that all depends on how our campus community responds in the coming days.”
The University also will temporarily suspend and reduce the number of in-person recreational activities and further limit capacity at events planned on campus. Additionally, more activities will be offered virtually. More information will be shared this afternoon regarding events and activities.
Until further notice, on-campus students should avoid leaving the Morgantown campus area except under emergency circumstances. Off-campus students should not visit campus and are asked to stay in your Morgantown area residence except when necessary.
Additional information and COVID-19 updates are available at WVU’s Return to Campus website.
(Source: West Virginia University)
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