One of the top universities in Michigan will not be welcoming students back to campus this fall.
In a letter addressed to students on Tuesday, Michigan State University President Samuel Stanley announced in-person classes will not resume because of lingering concerns about the coronavirus.
“Given the current status of the virus in our country — particularly what we are seeing at other institutions as they re-populate their campus communities — it has become evident to me that, despite our best efforts and strong planning, it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus,” Stanley wrote.
Stanley asked students to cancel plans to return to the university and added that officials from the school are working to roll out remote learning by Sept. 2.
“Effective immediately, we are asking undergraduate students who planned to live in our residence halls this fall to stay home and continue their education with MSU remotely,” Stanley wrote. “While a vast majority of our classes already were offered in remote formats, we will work the next two weeks to transition those that were in-person or hybrid to remote formats.”
The decision by school officials comes one day after the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sent thousands of students home after more than 100 people tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning to campus.
