As the school year begins to wrap up for the spring, college students are planning ahead for the return to campus in the fall.
State colleges and universities are planning on being fully in-person with some hybrid options available for upcoming the summer and fall semesters.
Shoreline-West Regional Community College President Dr. Thomas G. Coley said this fall, the state colleges will be fully on ground with in-person classes.
Coley said he has heard from many students since the beginning of the pandemic and despite incredible efforts, online learning is not always a viable option.
He also said this past year taught them many valuable lessons including how to be flexible in the delivery of coursework, increasing online and high flex offerings to students who will continue to want those.
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At Southern Connecticut State University, there will be a gradual reopening that starts on June 1 and full operations will be effective on August 1, according to Dr. Joe Bertolino, President of Southern Connecticut State University.
Bertolino said he anticipates the fall semester will have a familiar pre-COVID look with more than 70% of classes scheduled to be full on ground or hybrid with a remainder online. Social distancing and mask wearing will continue to be required.
He also said most of the summer sessions will be virtual, but there will be a number of one-day in-person student orientations.
In Hamden at Quinnipiac University, school President Judy Olian said classes will be fully in-person in the fall, but some classes will use Zoom or other distance technology where it makes sense.
In some cases, Olian said distance technologies can add-on to the learning possibilities in the classroom.
Students at Quinnipiac will be free to visit each other in the residence halls and dining halls and spectators will be allowed again at sporting events, she said.
Governor Ned Lamont also echoed what the other speakers said by saying the state is reopening and it's going to be an amazing summer and a great fall. He asked that students get vaccinated before they come back to school.
Colleges sent students home early in the COVID-19 pandemic and graduations last year were either virtual or put on pause.
Some students have since returned to campuses, with limits and restrictions in place, while other students have continued to learn from home.
Graduations for some college and university students will be in person this year, but with safety measures in place because of the ongoing pandemic.
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