In a video message sent to the student body on Oct. 23, President John Pistole announced the suspension of in-person classes following Thanksgiving break.
“We will be residential after Thanksgiving,” said Pistole, “but with some significant modifications.”
Gatherings will be limited to five people and will still have social distancing and mask requirements. Pistole explained that “grab-and-go” meals will still be available for students.
Although classes and large gatherings will be shifted online, Pistole explained that there are a handful of exceptions.
“Certain things like practicums, clinicals and student teaching—those will continue as those sites are allowing that,” said Pistole. “For student athletes, those practices will continue as scheduled based on our extensive COVID-19 testing for student athletes.”
Another modification that will take effect after Thanksgiving break is randomized COVID-19 testing. Currently on campus, the randomized testing is voluntary. Following Thanksgiving break, this will change.
“After Thanksgiving, if you are randomly selected, you will need to have that test done, or you’ll need to go into much more of a strict quarantine,” said Pistole, “because we are trying to identify those that are positive but asymptomatic.”
Pistole explained that these decisions were made in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“The COVID Task Force believes and recommends that this is the most prudent thing that we can do to watch out for everybody,” said Pistole.