Dayton Daily News: Wright State unveils plan to launch new school year

Excerpt

Wright State University will start its fall semester Aug. 24 with a mix of in-class and virtual instruction, the university said Tuesday.

In a new campus email, university leaders say they “conservatively” estimate that a third of classes will have an in-person presence of some sort, while most in-person classes will also deliver all content remotely for students “who are unable or do not feel comfortable returning to campus.”

And the university said it will resume Division I athletics starting July 6 “in a systematic and controlled nature.”

The bottom line is that university leaders expect fewer students and employees on campus, and those present will be expected to follow rigorous safety protocols, including the use of face coverings.

“When you come to campus, it will feel different,” Wright State President Sue Edwards said.

Many on-campus classes will have fewer students in attendance in each class section than they normally would, Wright State said. “Large enrollment lecture-based courses will be delivered remotely, with the opportunity for students to engage in discussion via chats or discussion forums.”

Classes such as practica, clinicals, lab sections and lab-based courses, studio courses in the arts, active learning courses and more will have some on-campus elements.

“Details of which courses will be on campus and which will be remote are being finalized and will be communicated to the campus community in the coming weeks,” the university said.

The university added that only research that requires campus facilities has been conducted on campus. “General office activities, data analysis and writing continue to be done remotely in order to minimize the number of staff in the research buildings at any time.”

At the beginning of Thanksgiving break, Nov. 25, all classes will move to fully remote delivery for the rest of the semester. Final exams will be taken remotely, and at this time, fall commencement is planned for Dec. 12.

All residential housing communities will be open for fall semester — with reduced occupancy — for students who want to live in one of Wright State’s residence halls or on-campus apartments, including on the Lake Campus.

The university will not be able to hold its annual Move-In Day but instead will have staggered arrivals over several days in August for students moving into campus housing.

View the original story at daytondailynews.com