West Virginia University students voiced their opinions and concerns regarding an article released by WVU Today earlier this week, which provided a preview of the university’s unfinalized plan for the fall 2021 semester.
The article, published May 4, reported that WVU’s fall 2021 semester will begin Aug. 18 and that the university’s priority for the fall semester is “to ensure in-person instruction for our students so they can enjoy the full college experience.”
The university said that the plans shared in the article are preliminary and may be adjusted based on infection rates and the health status of WVU and local communities as the fall semester draws nearer.
Some of these plans include reaching an 80% vaccination rate for the university community. WVU is not requiring students, faculty or staff to get their COVID-19 vaccines, but the university strongly recommends it.
WVU plans to adhere to health and safety protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its campuses. The university also plans to maintain its policies regarding mask-wearing, quarantining and travel.
Educational opportunities and research activities are expected to operate in-person and at full capacity. Some courses may include hybrid components. The university will continue to offer online classes. Faculty, staff and students are expected to wear masks in the classroom, take attendance and use seating charts to aid in contact tracing. Plexiglass will be available in classrooms for faculty use.
Adrian McCasky, a junior studying communication sciences and disorders from Kingwood, agrees with the university’s preliminary guidelines for the most part. However, she believes that the university should require students, faculty and staff to receive COVID-19 vaccines because of its plans to operate at full-capacity.
“With the size of the classrooms, the vaccine would be another form of protection. Many students in my in-person class had a hard time keeping their masks up,” she said.
WVU Today reported that the Personal Rapid Transit system will resume operations in the fall. The PRT will operate with vehicle capacity limits based on the university’s vaccination rates. Passengers will be expected to follow health and safety measures, including wearing masks, abiding by physical-distancing guidelines, and washing their hands or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol prior to removing their mask after disembarking the PRT.
McCasky does not feel that opening the PRT is a good idea.
“[It] would be a mess,” she said. “Distancing and capacity would be extremely hard.”
The university said the Student Recreation Center will reopen with safety guidelines. Many areas and programs will be available with limits on capacity. Current estimates are less than 20% capacity with limited numbers of students permitted on the fitness floors, in pools, in fitness classes and in the climbing area. Most activities or equipment will require reservations.
Club sports may resume practice and conditioning sessions, competitions and travel.
WVUp All Night activities will be held in-person at limited capacity, with safety measures in place and limited virtual events. Most WVUp All Night activities will take place at the Mountainlair, but a few special events might be held on the Evansdale campus.
The university is working to develop safety protocols to facilitate student organization meetings and Welcome Week activities.
Emily Jeffreys, a senior sport management major from Kingwood, is looking forward to attending classes in the fall and regaining some sense of normalcy in her life.
“I think the university’s plan is a great start for the fall semester,” she said.
Jeffreys was pleased that the university is basing its plans for the fall 2021 semester off of vaccination rates among university community members. However, she was also concerned about the university’s decision to reopen the PRT.
“I’m wondering how they are going to make sure only a certain amount of people will be riding the PRT,” she said.
Residence hall move-in for the fall semester will be held Aug. 9-Aug. 14. Residents will complete an online registration for a 90-minute move-in time slot, which are available each day at each residence hall. Each resident is permitted to have two individuals help them move in, and everyone will be expected to wear a mask and follow the health and safety protocols in place.
WVU Dining Services plans to completely reopen in the fall. Self-served buffet options will be offered with gloves available for use with multi-use serving utensils. Heightened sanitation procedures will be implemented to keep guests safe.
Additionally, all students, faculty and staff will be required to take a COVID-19 education module prior to the start of the fall semester.
Allisyn Emel, a senior journalism major from Huntingdon, Pa., believes that the university’s tentative plan is appropriate.
“It looks like they’re keeping a lot of their mandates from the previous school year, which seemed to work to keep COVID-19 contained within the school’s community,” she said.
Emel feels that with so many students and faculty receiving COVID-19 vaccines, it is safe to go back to in-person classes at full capacity and resume clubs, intramural sports and activities. She said that as long as individuals continue to receive vaccines, wear masks and practice social distancing, being on-campus full-time will be fine. She did not believe that any major reconsiderations need to be conducted by the university in regard to its plan so far.
Emel does think that the university should further encourage students to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
“While we can’t force anyone to get the vaccine, I think that the university should do more to encourage students to do so,” she said. “Maybe [by] implementing a small fine on the students’ accounts until they are fully vaccinated. There are so many opportunities for students to become vaccinated through the school and their states, so those who are able to, should do so.”
WVU will share finalized plans for the fall 2021 semester through the summer. Specific concerns regarding the university’s plan will be addressed in future Campus Conversations and targeted communication.
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