KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo College officials announced last Thursday that the fall semester will now be moved to a fully online format.
Last week, an article and petition was launched by the campus newspaper The Index, demanding that the campus cancel all of its in-person classes instead of implementing its plan for in-person learning. It states that having online classes would be better in the interest of public health.
Following this, along with the news of new COVID-19 outbreaks at other Michigan universities, Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez released an announcement that the fall semester would take place online.
“Based on the worrisome trends we’re seeing nationally, we have come to the very difficult decision that bringing students back to campus in the fall would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole,” Gonzales said in the announcement. “Therefore, we will transition to a fully virtual curriculum for fall 2020 and residence halls will be closed.”
Gonzales cites case numbers and other university outbreaks as factors into this decision, as well as protecting public health.
“Our students come from all over the U.S. and the world, and we are not an insulated campus. Instead, we are an integral part of a dynamic city where institutions and the community interact,” Gonzales said. “The best protocols and strongest commitments to following them are not a guarantee against this virus. With ongoing concerns about the risks of COVID transmission in a residential setting, as well as local, state, and national efforts to control the spread of the virus, we feel we must do our part to ‘protect the hive.'”
Kalamazoo College officials say they will be updating their own COVID-19 webpage. Any further questions can be directed to info@kzoo.edu.
Following the launch of the petition last week, the student newspaper of Western Michigan University (WMU), the Western Herald, released an editorial of its own, which was also calling for a fully-online transition for the fall semester.
The article cites several factors similar to the Kalamazoo College article, including university outbreaks.
“With all the problems going on at other universities across the country, Western can see that this fall could be disastrous,” Editor-in-Chief William Walton told WOOD TV 8. “This isn’t something we want, we don’t want the university to go online, we feel it needs to go online.”
Two virtual meetings were held by WMU officials last Wednesday, where preventative measures being taken for in-person learning were discussed. Officials maintain that they are implementing adequate precautions.
“We’ve taken a well-rounded view of the local data and we’ve had extensive consultation with our local health officials,” President Edward Montgomery said. “They have indicated they are confident we can open safely.”
Montgomery says the approval of the health department is crucial in reopening the campus.
“Many of the universities that have changed their plans have found themselves in conflict with their local officials or health authority,” Montgomery said. “Instead, we’re working collaboratively with ours.”
Montgomery also said the decision was made in part by surveying the student body, many of whom wished to return to campus for either hybrid or in-person learning. Over 6,800 students responded to the survey.
“A third of those students said they wanted all in-person classes, another 45 percent said they wanted a blend of in-person and online classes, and 22 percent said they wanted all online classes,” Montgomery said.
Among the other measures being taken are weekly reports of any new COVID-19 cases reported from students.
“We will release positive case counts each Friday starting this week,” Montgomery said. “They will be reported on the Safe Return Plan website under the health and safety section. We will report the number of tests, the number of positive tests, the percentage of our tests that are positive, and the number of hospitalizations each week.”
It was later reported that 16 new cases of coronavirus were announced Friday, August 21. Students have been moving back on campus for the beginning of classes since last Wednesday. Officials at the Sindecuse Health Center said the cases were reported during a 2 week period beginning August 9.
Since March, 69 people have tested positive at Western.
Then on Monday, August 31, MLive reporter Samuel Robinson Tweeted that a student protest was taking place on WMU’s campus, which was meant to call for a fully-online semester by Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. Robinson reported that the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Jennifer Bott, met with the group to listen to their demands.
At the time of this reporting, WMU is still scheduled to begin classes on Wednesday, September 2. Full details and procedures of the current plan can be viewed online at https://wmich.edu/safereturn.
In a related matter, students of the Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) district began their first online classes Monday. Officials released the following statement on the KPS website, explaining the procedures being taken for scheduling on the first day:
“On August 31, 2020, the first day of school, students have a half-day. High school students attend 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class periods. Middle school school students attend 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period classes from 9 – 11:50 a.m. Elementary students will attend their morning synchronous “live” classes ending by 12:15 p.m. Students do not attend the small group sessions in the afternoon.
Students in Options 2a (KVLP) and 2b (KVIC) will be contacted by their morning teachers on August 31. While we are working to get all student schedules set, some schedules may not yet be accessible in the Home Access Center due to issues with the online learning platforms. We are working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Please be sure to have your students check their school email as teachers may email them directly. Despite the challenges, let’s make the first day a great one!”
KPS officials say three out of four parents have chosen option one, which will mean a trimester of virtual learning, a second trimester that will phase in some time in the classroom and a return to school five days a week next spring.
Full details on the KPS safety plan can be viewed at this link.
An interview with WKZO and KPS Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri can be listened to at this link. Information about the KPS free meal distribution program can be found here.
Elsewhere in Kalamazoo County, MLive reported Monday that Portage Public Schools had also experienced its first day back in class, which is being done in a hybrid format with social distancing measures in place.
More details on the safety plan of Portage Public Schools can be viewed here.
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