PROVO — BYU has announced a decision on its fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are planning for an in-person fall semester starting Aug. 31, 2020, with a hybrid of in-person and remote classes. This decision is subject to change depending on trends in disease prevalence and guidance from state and local government.”
BYU President Kevin J. Worthen posted a message on the school’s website expressing his thanks to faculty and students for adapting to the unusual circumstances. He added that Tuesday’s decision is subject to change “depending on trends in disease prevalence and guidance from state and local governments.”
“Fall semester 2020 will begin, and perhaps remain, unlike any other semester at BYU,” Worthen wrote. “For this to succeed, we all have to play our part. The BYU mission statement says that all relationships within the BYU community should reflect ‘a loving, genuine concern for the welfare of our neighbor.’ Certainly that can be our motivation for wearing a face covering, washing our hands often, and staying home when we’re sick. We can react with empathy when someone we know tests positive for COVID-19. We can fight the virus of contempt with kindness even as we debate how to best respond as a society to the pandemic.”
Additional BYU tweets explained that all classes and exams will be remote after Thanksgiving break. No decisions have been made regarding the winter semester.
“Students who go home for Thanksgiving are encouraged to finish the semester at home to prevent potential increase of COVID-19 in the campus community in December.”
While on campus, students and employees should be prepared to wear face masks in classrooms, inside university buildings, during interactions with campus guests and customers, in certain areas and when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Safety and protection is BYU’s top priority, it said in another tweet.
“Students in high-risk categories, including older adults & the immunocompromised, are strongly encouraged to not be on campus during fall semester. Remote coursework options are available for these students.”
More details will be released closer to the fall. For more information, visit byu.edu/coronavirus.
Other college and universities owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have different plans for the fall semester.
Earlier this month, BYU-Hawaii announced plans to be online only this fall.
“We recognize that this news may be disappointing to those who have anticipated joining us on campus this fall,” BYU-Hawaii’s news release said. “The administration, staff and faculty of BYU–Hawaii share that disappointment and look forward to the day when we can safely gather face-to-face.”
Some students will return to LDS Business College (soon to be Ensign College) in a hybrid format. Classes will be limited to 25 students.
“Students in hybrid courses will alternate days on campus with remote attendance to help minimize congestion on campus. Smaller class sizes will allow for appropriate social distancing in physical classrooms. It is estimated that a maximum of 20% of the student body will be on campus at any given time,” a college news release said.
BYU-Idaho is “planning to potentially open campus this fall,” but hasn’t made an official decision, it said in a statement on June 17.
“While an official decision has not been made, the university is working to make the following course-delivery options available,” the statement said. “In opening campus courses for fall semester, BYU-Idaho plans to adhere to recommended guidelines and sanitization needs for the campus community.”