Optimism high as WVU begins spring semester in Morgantown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Classes are underway on the Morgantown campus of West Virginia University. Under the plan, all students and faculty have been tested for CIOVID-19 and about 37 percent of classes are in-person.

According to the WVU Morgantown COVID Dashboard, 14,093 students were tested and 1.1 percent or 168 students were positive. Tests were also conducted on 2,642 faculty and staff revealing 17 positive results were found for a .6 percent positive rate.

The majority of the COVID positive students quarantined off-campus, several elected go home and less than 75 quarantined in residence halls or University Apartments.

“When we were testing our residence hall students as they returned to campus the positivity rate was very low,” Corey Farris, Dean of Students said on WAJR’s Talk of the Town,” I’m incredibly pleased with that.”

Programs to welcome students back to campus like Up All Night have been shifted to all online.

In-person classes are being held for select graduate students, clinical programs, first year freshman classes and Capstone classes for seniors.

“As we designed our programs and designed how we were teaching classes and what classes would be in-person we listened to our students,” Farris said,” So, we did more of that over the semester break and we’ll do more of that during the spring semester.”

The protocols for COVID safety have not changed from the fall semester. Masks are required on all campus property, social distancing, hand hygiene and large gatherings are prohibited.

Despite those measures in-person instruction was suspended for about three weeks during the fall semester. The suspension occurred at Labor Day when large parties were broken up that had the potential to be super spreaders. Additionally, more than 50 students were either sanctioned, suspended or expelled for failing to follow the protocols.

“For those that have in-person classes, they want to be in the classroom,” Farris said,” They’re much more willing and understanding what the rules are and how to stay safe.”

University officials have added a page to their website about COVID safety and continue to use signage and other methods to keep students informed about what is expected and what the current status is.

“We’ll continue that gentle reminding that what they do certainly does impact the community from public schools to restaurants and bars,” Farris said,” We’re in the community and the students understand that.”

There have been fewer surprises for students as we are now ten months into the pandemic. Farris believes the lessons and consistency are great ways for the spring semester to begin.

“Even when they were at home with their family over semester break they stayed safe, they stayed indoors, they wore masks where ever they were,” Farris said,” That to me is a good sign as we start the semester