A month after announcing the school will reopen in the fall for in-person classes, University Southern California (USC) has reversed course and decided to reopen with almost all online classes for undergraduates.
“Public health guidelines continue to change, and Los Angeles County has yet to approve our plans for returning to full campus operations,” an email sent out Thursday reads. “Los Angeles is experiencing an alarming spike in coronavirus cases, making it clear we need to dramatically reduce our on-campus density and all indoor activities for the fall semester.”
USC President Carol Folt clarified that the fall semester will end before Thanksgiving break, in an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus amidst the start of the flu season.
A revised class schedule of primarily online classes will become available by July 8. Courses in a hybrid format combing in-person and online instruction will also be offered.
“We anticipate that 10-20 percent of our classes will be conducted in person, on campus,” USC said. “These will be primarily face-to-face labs, studios, performance, and other courses involving hands-on work, and independent research studies that require facilities and equipment only available on campus.”
The Los Angeles County Office of Education released its guidelines Wednesday for the safe reopening of schools preschool to 12th grade.
The 45-page plan includes limiting classes to 16 students, one-way hallways, lunch seated at their desks, a staggered school day, masks required for all students, and more use of outdoor space.
The new document affects 2 million students and their families.