Michigan Schools Hope To Return To In-Person Classes In Fall

MICHIGAN — Students will return to the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus for in-person instruction during the Fall semester, university president Mark Schlissel announced Monday. But the maize and blue will not be the only Michigan school doing so. Several other universities have announced similar approaches going forward.

The announcements come after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently said Michigan schools would be able to return to in-person instruction in the Fall. The governor said she was hopeful to have more information to present on June 31.

Whitmer's announcement was one of many slowly reopening Michigan as it works to return to normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic. To date, 61,409 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in the state. Of those, 5,853 people have died due to the coronavirus. The state reported 179 new cases and seven new deaths Monday.

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University of Michigan

At U-M, classes will consist of a mixture of in-person and remote classes, the school said in its announcement Monday.

"Thanks to the thoughtful and deliberate efforts of hundreds of members of the U-M community, our cautious optimism about the fall has coalesced into a path forward," Schlissel said. "Their work has given me confidence that we can do this safely, and we will continue to plan and prepare in the months ahead. We now have the opportunity to begin a new journey together, equipped with the very best guidance and ideas from our leading scholars, innovative students and expert staff."

Although not all courses will be available in every format, most students will be able to choose whether to return to Ann Arbor for a hybrid learning experience or study from home in a fully remote mode, the university said.

The Ann Arbor campus will open its residence halls for housing and dining, and will offer many on-campus programs and activities, the university said. UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint have campus-specific plans.

The university also launched a Maize and Blueprint website with more information on on its approach going forward. The school cautioned that major changes in conditions could mean it will need to adjust parts of its plan.

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In the meantime, all staff and faculty who can work from home will do so, the university said.

Other Schools Holding In-Person Classes

Central Michigan University, located in Mt. Pleasant, announced a plan that addresses both in-person and online instruction. The university said it would begin and end its Fall Semester early in order to avoid the spread of not only the coronavirus, but general influenza as well.

"By moving up the start and conclusion of our fall semester, we seek to significantly reduce the number of students, faculty and staff returning to and from campus for the Thanksgiving holiday and through December," Central Michigan University President Bob Davies said June 1. "This reduces the likelihood of potential spread of infectious diseases like the flu and COVID-19 on our campus and in our community."

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Lake Superior State implemented a plan similar to what Central Michigan University announced, adjusting its academic calendar while planning for face-to-face instruction.

“Paramount in university planning is the overriding principle that students, faculty, and staff feel safe and secure in the environment," President, Rodney S. Hanley said in May. "We will do everything possible to protect our students, their families, and the university community in our endeavor to deliver a meaningful fall campus experience.”

Detroit Mercy is another school opting at a flexible schedule due to the coronavirus, offering both in-person and online courses.

“As we plan for the fall 2020 semester, we remain focused on our mission of providing excellent undergraduate and graduate education that fosters the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and ethical development of our students,” Detroit Mercy President Antoine M. Garibaldi said in May.

What Does This Mean For Sports?

Fall sports, such as football, soccer and volleyball, are closely tied to the in-person instruction. As questions are answered regarding whether schools opt to open classrooms to in-person classes in the Fall, more questions are raised regarding that status of sports.

UM-Dearborn announced Monday that its fall sports, including men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball, will not compete during the 2020-21 academic year. UM-Dearborn has also suspended operations for all winter and spring teams for the Fall 2020 term, it announced.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has presented major challenges to every part of campus operations including our favorite activities that bring us exciting moments every year through UM-Dearborn Athletics," UM-Dearborn Director of Athletics and Recreation Matt Beaudry said. "While today's announcement is difficult for our student-athletes, teams, and fans, it is in the best interest of the university to protect the health and safety of the entire campus community, including student-athletes, coaches and staff."

UM-Dearborn will be transitioning to a hybrid semester consisting of remote learning and a small number of classes held on campus throughout the Fall 2020 term.

The university plans for winter and spring sports during the Winter 2021 semester will be shared by October 1, 2020. All UM-Dearborn academic and athletic scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year will be honored by the university, the university said.

Across the country, schools have been taking various approaches in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to ESPN, LSU has allowed football players to practice in quarantine. Kansas State suspended practice for two weeks after some of its players testing positive for the virus, ESPN reported.