MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU students will return to the three campuses in the state Wednesday, August 19.
Students will remain on campus, with no fall break, through Nov. 24, then depart for Thanksgiving Break, not returning to campus for the rest of the fall semester. There will be one week of online instruction following Thanksgiving Break, with finals also conducted online.
Spring classes will begin on campus on Jan 19, continuing with no spring break through April 30, and finals on campus from May 3-7.
A separate, phased schedule for staff and faculty to return to campus will be released at a later date.
“We have given careful consideration to the wisdom of returning to campus while the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us,” President Gordon Gee said. “However, it is clear our students want to be with their professors and fellow Mountaineers. We are taking every precaution and making every preparation possible so they can do that safely.”
At Gee’s direction, school officials have been finalizing the plans since early April.
Components of the plan include mandatory testing for all students, faculty and staff before returning to campus, requiring masks to be worn while on campus, including in classes, social distancing, increased frequency of cleaning, limits on travel and visitation to campus, and a variety of other actions. Additionally, all faculty, staff and students will be required to complete an COVID-19 education course prior to Aug. 11.
Dr. Clay Marsh, WVU vice president and executive dean for health sciences who recently served as the coronavirus czar for the state of West Virginia, stressed that personal accountability will be key to keeping campus open this fall.
“West Virginians have done extremely well in flattening the curve of COVID-19. Our actions have saved lives, protected our healthcare providers and achieved some of the best metrics in the United States,” Marsh said. “Our rate of positive tests remains around 2 percent, which is amazing given our neighboring states’ rates are four to 20 times higher.
“But the tricky part will be returning to campus, and the most effective way to reopen safely, slow the spread of the virus, protect our campus community and save lives is to wear a mask,” Marsh said.
The campus community will be kept informed over the next two months through E-News, Unews, a new website and multiple Return to Campus Conversations. This Monday, June 8, and then every Tuesday thereafter, new information will be released, followed by a Return to Campus Conversation held at 10 a.m. the following Thursday.
The first Conversation, will be prerecorded and is planned for June 4, with Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop, Dean of the School of Public Health Dr. Jeff Coben, Vice President for Talent & Culture Cris DeBord, Dean of Students Corey Farris, Vice President for University Relations & Enrollment Management Sharon Martin, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed.
Even though plans are to return, the University continues to monitor the situation and consult with public health and government officials in case it needs to change course.
“As always, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount,” Gee said. “Therefore, we will be ready to act in their best interests as the challenges unfold.”