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Amid an unfolding pandemic, many institutions have said their summer classes will also be online or canceled while others consider keeping campus closed in the fall.
The University of Alabama system says it plans to have teachers and students return to campus for in-person instruction for the fall semester, Kellee Reinhart, the senior vice chancellor for communications, told CNN.
The system is includes the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Earlier this month, the system created a task force comprised of health experts that will help develop a plan for a safe reopening of the campuses.
“The task force will consider testing measures, enhanced cleaning, classroom procedures, housing policies, security and wellness programs, and the provision of personal protective equipment in developing a comprehensive plan to protect students, faculty and staff,” the system said in a statement.
Reinhart says the plan is to return to on-campus instruction at all three universities.
“I think that’s everybody’s goal,” she said.
In North Carolina
“We are optimistically seeing indications of improvement and hopeful that this will continue,” the statement said. “North Carolina will likely have improved capacity for tracking student exposure and greater access to the tools, materials, and supplies that can help minimize the virus’s threat.”
University leaders will determine what measures need to be taken for vulnerable populations that can’t risk returning to class, the statement says.
In North Dakota
In a later news conference, the governor expressed his support for the decision.
“Given the population of the typical age of a college student is at less risk, I think it’s a smart way to signal that we’re going to try to figure out a way to add, at least at a minimum, a mix of in-person and online heading into next fall,” Gov. Doug Burgum said.
In Texas
“This decision is predicated on the fact that COVID-19 cases in the City of Lubbock continue to decline and that health officials advise us that it is possible to implement a return-to-campus process in a manner that protects the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” the statement said.
But campus life will be different, the president said.
Some scenarios officials are currently looking at include the use of “protective masks, testing, contact-tracing and other tools.”
“We are developing several ways to reduce the density of groups in our student facilities, large lecture-based classrooms, and our popular campus areas,” the statement said. “These same plans extend to special events, including athletics.”
CNN’s Jamiel Lynch, Elizabeth Stuart, Gregory Lemos and Chris Boyette contributed to this report.
