U. of Virginia announces in-person classes set for August

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - The University of Virginia announced Thursday that its campus will reopen for some in-person classes in August, with the face-to-face instruction ending by Thanksgiving.

Students will be allowed to return to the university in Charlottesville for the fall semester, which is set to begin Aug. 25, according to a statement from university leaders.

Administrators added that the on-campus classes will end by Nov. 26 and students will not return again until January to limit travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Large classes and those taught by professors with health concerns will remain online and most classes offered in-person will also be offered remotely, allowing students to choose whether they will stay home or return, university leaders said.

The university is developing protocols for testing, contact tracing and isolation of those who test positive for the virus, as well as arranging the purchase of personal protective equipment for the campus community, according to officials.

Administrators also said they are still determining how many students can safely return to campus, how many in-person classes can be offered and how many people can live in dorms and use school facilities while abiding by social distancing guidelines, according to the statement.

“We will be placing a good deal of trust in our students to look out for the safety and well-being not just of each other, but of our faculty, staff, and community members,” the announcement stated.

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