Patty Rodriguez

Patty Rodriguez

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USC to Reopen This Fall With In-Person and Online Classes

US-HEALTH-VIRUS

USC will bring students back to campus for the fall semester, Los Angeles Times reports.

The University of Southern California's campus life will return with several safety measures that include both online and in-person classes. Additionally, the campus is adding more spacing in dorms and testing for COVID-19. The announcement was made by USC's president Carol L. Folt Tuesday night.

The coronavirus pandemic forced campuses nationwide to send most students home and shift to online learning back in March. Folt's message told the campus community "We all are eager to return to campus life this fall and committed to making this decision with a great deal of care and planning."

University of Southern California is reportedly one of the first major universities in California to announce solid reopening plans. This follows the CSU system's decision to conduct mostly online classes for the fall semester, which affects all 23-campuses. The University of California is expected to announce plans for all of its ten campuses.

Folt also announced the fall semester would start one week earlier than usual - August 17th. USC plans to conclude the fall semester by Thanksgiving (with no fall break). Folt says this earlier schedule hopes to minimize the spread of the virus as the flu season starts.

Prospective and returning students, here is what you can expect, according to Los Angeles Times:

  • Welcome activities (including orientations) for incoming students to begin online the week of Aug. 10.
  • Almost every in-person class will also be offered online to provide more flexibility to students and faculty to choose. Courses, like dance, may be fully in person while others could be fully online.
  • Residence halls will reopen but the number of students per room will be reduced.
  • On-campus dining facilities will be modified to reduce density and contact with take-out dining options expanded.
  • Classrooms, offices, and other campus spaces are being reconfigured to accommodate physical distancing requirements.
  • Pedestrian walkways will be marked to limit congestion.
  • USC staff will frequently clean and sanitize buildings, classes, and public spaces according to strict protocols and health and safety guidelines.
  • Testing and contact tracing will be expanded and enhanced to include all returning staff, faculty and students.
  • USC will require everyone to wear masks on campus and in classrooms and maintain physical distancing.

Furthermore, those returning to campus will first be required to complete educational training sessions and agree in writing to follow the campus and public health policies and guidelines. Violation of the policies will lead to disciplinary actions. Folt will announce the plan for student and faculty testing in the near future.

As of right now, USC has not announced decision regarding when they will restart concerts, performance and athletic programs. For more information and to read the full story, head to Los Angeles Times.

PHOTOS: Getty Images

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