University of Kansas shortens its in-person fall semester

In-person instruction to end before Thanksgiving followed by online finals. Spring semester to begin Feb. 1.

By

State News

June 16, 2020 - 9:27 AM

The University of Kansas, Strong Hall. Courtesy photo

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas announced Monday that it will shorten the time students are on campus for the fall semester as it seeks to block a coronavirus wave.

Under the plan, classes would begin in person as scheduled on Aug. 24 and in-person instruction would end just before the Thanksgiving holiday, with students encouraged to leave campus, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. After Thanksgiving, there will be a week to study for finals, which will be done remotely as they were during the spring semester.

“Undoubtedly, the fall semester will be unlike any in history. It will require flexibility, compassion and resilience,” Chancellor Douglas Girod said in a campus message. “And it will require each of us to behave responsibly and in a way that benefits the entire community. If this pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that we are all in this together.”

If approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, the spring semester will not begin until Feb. 1. 

New data released Monday shows Kansas has at least 11,419 coronavirus cases, up 3% or 372 from Friday. The state health department also said the number of COVID-19 deaths rose by two to 245.

Sedgwick County was among 13 counties that has seen an uptick in cases since last week, Gov. Laura Kelly said at a Monday news conference. Sedgwick County’s COVID-19 website shows  19 more people in the county have tested positive, for a total of 764. Of those, 240 are active.

Kelly said the increase “is not a coincidence” and that local government officials in Sedgwick County opted to make all social distancing guidelines optional after state stay-at-home orders were lifted.

“If we do not treat this threat seriously, more lives will be lost. It will halt the reopening of our economy and prevent our children from returning to school,” Kelly said.

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