SPU Moves Classes Online For First Week Of Winter Quarter

SEATTLE, WA — Seattle Pacific University has become the latest Pacific Northwest school to temporarily shift to remote learning in response to the spread of COVID-19 and rise of its omicron variant.

The school will start its Winter Quarter remotely, with all classes taking place online from Jan. 3-7. The SPU COVID-19 Decision Group made the call, and officials referred to it as a "precautionary measure."

In-person classes are set to resume on Jan. 10, and residence halls, dining services and campus officers will remain open during the remote learning period.

Officials announced the move in an email to the campus community on Dec. 21, and said in the note that the school strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get boosted and take a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus.

Seattle Pacific University's decision is similar to that of the University of Washington, which also announced on Dec. 21 that it would start its winter quarter remotely, with classes online from Jan. 3 to 9.

King County is averaging almost 1,600 new COVID-19 cases each day, and on Monday Public Health – Seattle & King County reported a 195 percent increase in positive cases from Dec. 21-27.