Nearly three dozen West Virginia University students either have faced or will face disciplinary action for COVID-19 violations, the university said.
Classes started Wednesday in Morgantown, a week later than originally planned because of concerns about COVID-19.
In a news release, the university’s Office of Student Conduct has placed 17 students on probation for COVID-19 related violations as of Aug. 26. The office is also processing charges for roughly 15 additional students who could face probation. Plus, another student with a repeated history of COVID-19 violations is scheduled for a student conduct hearing. If found responsible, the student could either be suspended for expelled.
This latest round of WVU students violating COVID-19 protocols follows an announcement last week by the university that six students were placed on probation as part of an investigation into parties held earlier this month in downtown areas near campus.
“The investigations include a mix of upper and underclass students, both off- and on-campus incidents,” WVU spokesperson April Kaull said in an email to The Dominion Post. “Generally speaking, the off-campus incidents involve violations of the governor’s social gatherings order while the on-campus incidents are other COVID-19 related violations such as failure to follow protocols.”
Kaull declined to discuss any particular case because of FERPA — Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act — a federal law that protects the privacy of students and their parents.
Corey Farris, WVU’s dean of students, could not be reached in time for this report.
In bringing students back to the Morgantown campus, university officials have implemented a number of safety measures including testing everyone for the virus, making wearing a mask mandatory for anyone on campus, spaced seating, and putting many of its courses online to reduce the number of people on campus.
University officials have said their goal for fall is to make it to Nov. 24, the last day for face-to-face classes in Morgantown.
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