In a policy shift, West Chester University will stick with online classes in the fall semester.
President Christopher Fiorentino made the announcement in a letter to the university community.
Fiorentino cited the spread of coronavirus to more than 40 states and more than 60,000 daily cases. West Chester University has 17,000 students in the city north of the Delaware line.
“Accordingly, our plans for the fall semester must adjust to this new reality. My leadership team and I have made the decision to continue remote learning through the fall 2020 semester, with a few courses delivered in a hybrid format, meaning both in-person and remote, in order to assist those students with clinical placements, student teaching, performance obligations, internship sites, and similar academic responsibilities,” Fiorentino wrote.
So far, the University of Delaware and Delaware State University plan to resume classes, with some courses remaining online. Delaware Technical Community College will stick with online classes in the fall.
Buildings on the West Chester campus remain open, but are limited to 50 percent capacity under Pennsylvania standards.
WCU will offer six “free” Fall credits during the upcoming 2020-2021 Winter or Summer sessions. Undergraduate students taking 12 credits in the Fall will be able to take an additional six credits in the Winter or Summer session without being charged tuition. Similarly, undergraduate students taking 15 credits in the Fall will now be able to take an additional 3 credits in the Winter or Summer session without being charged tuition.
