EKU’s fall return will mean socially distant classrooms, required mask wearing
Eastern Kentucky University students will return this fall to spread-out classrooms led by masked instructors.
According to the university’s reopening plan released Tuesday, classes will begin on Aug. 17 and students will be allowed to move into dorms the week prior. Like the University of Kentucky and other colleges across the state, students will have no fall break and in-person classes will end at Thanksgiving. Finals will be given online in the week after the holiday.
The university’s Board of Regents approved a tuition, dining and housing cost freeze on Tuesday—meaning that students will pay the same rates they did in fall 2019. Without financial aid, in-state students would pay $4,633 per semester and out-of-state students would pay $9,669 per semester in tuition. According to a press release, the board also approved an additional $1 million in scholarship money for students.
Students living in dorms will be provided cloth masks when they move in. Students and employees will be required to wear a mask in classroom buildings and are encouraged to wear masks in all other settings where they might come within six feet of someone else, the plan states.
Officials are working to identify residential spaces that could house students who test positive for COVID-19 or may be potentially exposed.
All furniture will be removed from dorm lobbies, group study spaces will be closed, front desks will be shielded with plexiglass and capacity in common areas will be limited to 10 people.
The university’s overall dorm capacity will be lower, as some traditional, two-to-a-room dorms will have reduced capacity to encourage social distancing, according to a list of frequently asked questions provided by EKU spokesperson Lanny Brannock.
The university is “virtualizing” lab work where it can and many large classes will be moved outdoors or into larger classrooms where possible. Students can also opt into a fully online schedule.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 3:19 PM.