Recently, with the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and their successful rollout, many US universities have announced plans to open their campuses for in-person learning in fall 2021!
Many Schools Plan for In-Person Classes
Universities across the United States are actively preparing for a full return to on-campus, in-person instruction in the fall.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reopened libraries, gyms, and other facilities last Monday.
As early as January, the president of the University of California system, after consulting with its 10 chancellors, decided to help nearly 300,000 students return to campus in the fall. They stated that UC would “remain vigilant in all critical prevention efforts and continue to prioritize the health and well-being of the university community.”
Ohio State University (OSU) also announced last Thursday that it plans to offer in-person events and classes, allow students to live in dorms, and attend sporting events.
Michigan State University (MSU) has also begun phased reopening, with the first phase including opening dining tables for individual diners and allowing socially distanced exercise on campus. MSU's Student Services Building will also resume normal business hours.
New York University (NYU) also announced last month that it will use a mix of remote and in-person classes in summer 2021 as a transition to help all faculty and staff return to classrooms for in-person teaching in fall 2021!
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Bradley University announced earlier this month that it will return to traditional education methods in the fall, offering face-to-face classes and extracurricular activities on campus.
Kansas State University also said last Wednesday that it plans to provide students with a more “normal” semester in fall 2021, including face-to-face classes and activities.
All Americans Expected to Be Eligible for Vaccination by End of May
Although the pandemic in the US has not yet been completely controlled, data shows that infection numbers have dropped sharply under effective measures.
In particular, since most states reopened in early February, there has not been a massive surge in infections like in November and December last year, showing that the pandemic is being controlled well with vaccine distribution. Against this backdrop, US universities are confident about resuming in-person classes in fall 2021.
Speaking at the White House recently, President Biden said vaccine production will be ramped up so that all Americans can get vaccinated by the end of May. The original plan was to have enough supply by the end of July, but the timeline has been moved up by two months!
When Will International Students Get Vaccinated?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), current vaccine supply is still limited and available only to frontline workers, high-risk individuals, and essential workers who frequently contact the public.
As vaccine types and supply increase, more people will be included in the recommended vaccination groups. Each state has its own regulations, and details will follow as vaccination efforts expand.
Universities are also strictly following state policies and CDC recommendations to open vaccine appointments for those most in need.
See CDC recommendations for vaccination groups:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html
For current college students, COVID-19 has not only limited their in-person learning opportunities but also deprived them of group study sessions, dorm gatherings, meals with friends, and other daily social aspects of college life.
Online learning has been a struggle and ordeal to varying degrees for both domestic and international students.
With the widespread distribution of vaccines, it is believed that the pandemic will soon be over, and students will be able to return to campus and resume their long-missed academic and social lives.
