Coronavirus: Wittenberg announces fall start date, plan details

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Wittenberg University has announced their fall semester start date, as well as more reopening plan details.

In-person classes will start a week earlier than originally scheduled on Monday, Aug. 17, President Michael Frandsen announced Monday night.

He also said in-person instruction will end on Nov. 24, and the semester will finish out with remote instruction and assessment after the Thanksgiving holiday.

“After examining multiple scenarios, we determined that shifting our academic calendar to begin and end earlier was in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff, and their continued health and wellbeing,” Frandsen said.

RELATED: Coronavirus: Wittenberg University outlines fall plans, hopeful students will return

With an 18-member Health and Safety Working Group researching best practices for in-person operations since early May, they have finalized Phase I recommendations and have begun Phase II.

This includes employees returning to work and campus guests to follow health and safety guidelines, such as daily temperature checks, face coverings, social distancing, hand washing and completing a health questionnare, Frandsen said.

READ: Coronavirus: Clark, Champaign schools set start dates, begin planning for reopening

As for the campus, housing adjustments are being accomodated for single-room requests, offices and classrooms are being reconfigured to meet social distancing, and there will be protocols for dining halls and other facilites.

“Community is central to the experience we offer, but bringing our campus back together safely must be our top priority,” Frandsen said.

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