Chicago Sun-Times

LOYOLA SCALES BACK REOPENING PLANS, WILL MOVE MOST CLASSES ONLINE

- BY CLARE PROCTOR, STAFF REPORTER cproctor@suntimes.com | @ceproctor2­3

Most of Loyola University’s classes this fall will be online, according to an email sent to students, faculty and staff Monday.

The email, sent from university President Jo Ann Rooney and Provost Norberto Grzywacz, announced that in-person classes will only be offered for courses that need face-toface instructio­n — things like labs, research and experienti­al learning classes.

The move represents a scaling back of previous plans. Loyola had earlier announced it would offer a greater mix of online and inperson courses this fall. The university did not respond to questions of what percent of classes will be online this fall.

“Our priority remains the health, safety and well-being of our Loyola community,” the email said. “As COVID-19 infection rates and deaths continue to increase across numerous states, we share the concerns of our faculty, staff and broader community.”

Carlos Martinez, a rising senior at Loyola from Little Village, said he wasn’t shocked by the university’s announceme­nt, but after a challengin­g transition to online classes this spring, he said the fall “won’t be the same” as when classes are in person.

Martinez, 21, has a scholarshi­p that typically secures him on-campus housing. But with the university’s single-occupancy requiremen­t in dorms, Martinez said he isn’t confident there will be housing available for him.

“I understand we need to take care of ourselves and be responsibl­e,” Martinez said. “I’m not getting the full experience of living on campus and being immersed in community.

It’s kind of sad.”

Sal Carfagno, a member of the Loyola student government who is from New Jersey, said he found the email upsetting, especially for incoming freshmen and students who scrambled to find living arrangemen­ts for the fall. Still, “there’s no college experience if you pass away from coronaviru­s,” said Carfagno, 20, noting the health and safety of staff and students as the most important considerat­ion.

Studying health care administra­tion, Carfagno said most of his classes rely on group assignment­s, a task that becomes increasing­ly challengin­g as students have to coordinate working online and across time zones.

“There’s people that do well in an online environmen­t,” Carfagno said. “I’m just one of the ones that don’t do well . ... I’m a better handson learner. It’s not ideal, but it’s the safest.”

The school also plans to provide in-person courses and research for internatio­nal students — as well as domestic students. Doing so will permit internatio­nal students to stay in the U.S. in light of the Trump administra­tion’s order that internatio­nal students attending schools that are entirely online can no longer stay in the country.

Students will still be allowed to live in dorms, though the university previously had announced that all rooms will be singles, and the school is working with a nearby Hampton Inn to secure additional rooms to house students. The university also plans to conduct frequent COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.

Loyola previously had warned that they might move entirely online depending on how the pandemic evolved.

 ?? TYLER LARIVIERE/SUN-TIMES ?? Loyola University says most of its classes will be online this fall.
TYLER LARIVIERE/SUN-TIMES Loyola University says most of its classes will be online this fall.

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