Ohio’s colleges and universities are facing a familiar problem as COVID-19 cases surge statewide: How can students safely return to campus for a new semester?
Many colleges nationwide began requiring COVID-19 vaccines during fall semester in hopes that high vaccination rates would lift some pandemic policies in the spring. But with the omicron variant setting a record-high number of new cases and hospitalizations, those prospects are likely pushed back for now.
Colleges and universities have a few more considerations in returning students to campus during a pandemic compared to K-12 school districts.
A big one: Residential colleges can be especially vulnerable to community spread because students also live, eat and study in close quarters with one another in addition to attending classes together.
The potential for COVID-19 outbreaks is especially high at the start of the semester as many students travel across state lines or from around the world to return to campus.
Nationally, some universities have already decided to pivot to virtual learning for the first few weeks of the semester. That growing list of institutions includes Harvard University, Stanford University and Michigan State University.
Those moving forward with in-person classes, like Ohio State University, say they are closely monitoring cases — and that switching to digital classes is still a possibility.
At a virtual town hall Thursday afternoon, Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson said the university is “committed to a full, in-person semester.” However, leaders are working out contingency plans in case new infections, hospitalizations and lack of quarantine spaces become too overwhelming.
“We are at a critical moment,” Johnson said. “Everything you did last fall is making it possible for us to return to campus this spring.”
Greater Columbus universities are taking cautious and varied approaches to students returning to campus in the coming days and weeks.
Here’s a look at how Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and Otterbein University are handling the start of spring semester. As with many things during the pandemic, these policies are subject to change:
Ohio State University
Classes resume: Jan. 10, as scheduled, and in-person
Vaccines: Students, staff and faculty members are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a university-approved exemption. Booster shots are strongly recommended.
Testing: Students living in residence halls on the Columbus campus and in off-campus fraternity and sorority houses are required to take a rapid COVID-19 test before moving in this weekend.
Those who test negative can move in as planned, but anyone who tests positive will have to isolate at home or in a local hotel for five days.
Surveillance testing will begin Jan. 14 and be required for:
All students living in university housing on all campuses, regardless of vaccination status All sorority and fraternity members, regardless of vaccination status All students and employees who have an approved exemption for the university’s vaccination requirement All students and employees who have taken no action on the university’s vaccination requirement
Masks: Masks are required to be worn in all university buildings, including common areas in residence halls, and on CABS buses, regardless of vaccination status.
Other changes this semester: Seating at dining halls will be reduced to 40% capacity, and grab-and-go options will be expanded. Melissa Shivers, OSU senior vice president for Student Life, said Thursday that student life activities will transition to virtual programming when possible.
Ohio Wesleyan University
Classes resume: All classes from Jan. 12-14 will be held remotely.
In-person classes will resume Jan. 17. Residential students must still return to campus before Jan. 12 and complete the check-in and testing procedure.
“Our goal is to provide an exceptional, in-person learning environment for OWU students, with the personal attention that is one of our hallmarks,” said OWU President Rock Jones in an email to the campus community Wednesday. “We believe this revised schedule helps us fulfill that goal for all students by giving all students full access to the first days of class, and by limiting in-person interaction until we are five days past the arrival of students on campus.”
Vaccines: Students, staff and faculty members are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a university-approved exemption. Individuals are also required to get a booster shot by Jan. 14.
Testing: Unvaccinated students and employees will be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 throughout the semester.
During at least the first three weeks of the semester, a random sample of vaccinated students who have not yet received a booster will also be tested.
Masks: Masks are required to be worn in all university buildings, including common areas in residence halls, and encouraged when visiting dorm rooms that are not the student’s, regardless of vaccination status.
Other changes this semester: The university is not permitting overnight visitors in residence halls for the time being.
Otterbein University
Classes resume: Jan. 10, as scheduled, and in-person
Vaccines: Students, staff and faculty members are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a university-approved exemption. Booster shots are strongly recommended.
Testing: All residential students and those living in sorority and fraternity houses are required to test negative for COVID-19 before moving back into their residence. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days are exempt from return-to-campus testing.
Unvaccinated students will be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 during the semester.
All Otterbein campus community members must perform a daily health self-assessment before coming to campus.
Masks: Masks are required to be worn in all university buildings, including common areas in residence halls, regardless of vaccination status.
Other changes this semester: On-campus dining halls will start the semester with grab-and-go service only.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
