UA, ASU, GCU, MCCCD Planning In-Person Classes For The Fall Semester
Four major Arizona universities and the Maricopa County community colleges are expecting to resume in-person classes for the fall semester after shifting to online instruction during the spring semester due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Arizona State University sent a letter out to students Thursday saying it would welcome students back on Aug. 20 with whatever guidance and recommendation health officials provide four months from now.
“If there are public health recommendations that class sizes need to be smaller, then we’ll make adjustments," said Katie Paquet, ASU's vice president of media relations and strategic communications.
Paquet said ASU also plans to reopen dorms, but it's still unsure about whether it will hold sporting events.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins shared his plan to restart in-person classes in a Thursday press conference.
"We have launched antibody testing for the county and will soon begin antibody testing 250,000 health care workers and first responders for the state of Arizona in partnership with the Governor’s Office," he said. "Next, we will test our own students, faculty and staff. We are expanding our diagnostic testing capability for COVID-19 infection. In short, we are working with local and national experts to create best-in-class strategies to reopen the campus."
The Maricopa County Community College District and Grand Canyon University also hope to resume classes in the fall.
"We continue to pray that the coronavirus pandemic will have subsided and we are able to welcome students back in the same way we always have — with the excitement of Welcome Week and all of the spirited Move-In activities that entails," said GCU spokesman Bob Romantic. "If that is not possible due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, we are planning for a number of other scenarios that we can implement if necessary."
Northern Arizona University President Rita Cheng said in an email to the campus community that it may implement physical distancing policies in all public access areas and classrooms and safety measures and health protocols in our residential and dining facilities, and find additional physical space to accommodate our larger classes in order to ensure appropriate physical distancing.
KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.
