Students must have COVID-19 test to attend
All West Virginia University students must be tested for the COVID-19 virus before returning to in-person classes.
WVU’s spring semester begins today and will continue through April 30, the last day of classes. University officials said 33% of students have opted for in-person, while the remainder have chosen remote learning.
“We’ve done well as a campus navigating the pandemic,” said Dr. Jeff Coben, dean of the School of Public Health during a campus-wide video meeting last week.
Coben said more than 200 WVU employees have been vaccinated for the virus and is optimistic about having everyone on campus inoculated later in the semester.
“Even though someone has had the vaccine, we require they still get tested,” said Rob Alsop, WVU’s vice president for strategic initiatives.
One change the university has made with its COVID-19 policy is the length of quarantine, which had been two weeks for someone who had been exposed to the virus. Now, it will be 10 days, he said.
COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, chills, shortness of breath, body aches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, typically show up two to four days after exposure.
“They (students) can reduce it to 10 days if they show no symptoms,” said Coben, adding the student must also have a negative COVID-19 test and follow all safety protocols through day 14. “The single most important factor is to wear a mask. We had 85% compliance and we would like to see it at 100%.”
Students and WVU employees who tested positive for COVID-19 over the winter break and have yet to notify the university must do so. Students should notify
WVU Shared Services and employees should notify WVU Medical Management.
Another change students will find is the daily wellness survey, something required last semester and used by the university to determine access to campus. But some students, such as those in the health sciences, will still have to complete the survey daily, Alsop said.
WVU will not offer its summer study abroad program this year, said Provost Maryanne Reed. This is because of the uncertainty around the pandemic.
“It takes a long time to plan,” these programs, she said.
Reed said final exams are scheduled for May 4-8. The university will also use a traditional grading scale this semester, and not the high pass, pass, or fail option.
Corey Farris, dean of students, said there will not be any in-person activities for students this semester. As with last semester, there will be online activities with the first virtual WVU Up All Night scheduled for Friday.
“In-person activities will resume when it is safe,” he said.
WVU sororities will start virtual recruitment Jan. 29 through Feb. 6, while Interfraternity Council will start Feb. 1, he said.
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