OU and OSU cancel spring break
Oklahoma' s two largest universities have eliminated spring break and will not return to in-person learning after Thanksgiving.
The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University announced Tuesday they will start the spring semester a week later than planned to remove spring break from their academic calendars.
Both universities said these changes give them the best chance to finish the spring semester in person. OSU will begin its spring term Jan. 19 and OU on Jan. 25.
OS U decided over the summer all classes would transition online on Nov. 30 after a weeklong break f or Thanksgiving.
OU announced Monday it also would finish the fall semester virtually after Thanksgiving break, Nov. 25-29. The university's chief COVID-19 officer,
Dr. Dale Bratzler, said transmission of the coronavirus could increase with students returning from holiday travel.
“When we brought students back to campus in August, we saw an uptick in cases, which we expected and planned for appropriately,” Bratzler said in a statement. “We anticipate this could happen again in November, and these steps will help mitigate the possibility of a resurgence.”
State health data shows COVID- 19 rates sharply increased in Cleveland and Payne county after OU and OSU resumed in-person classes in August.
OSU has reported 1,363 positive cases from students, faculty, staff and its athletics department since Aug. 14.
OU reports 541 cases from its residence halls, athletics department and on-campus testing center since Aug. 4, according to a compilation from the OU Daily.
The university doesn't include self-reports from off-campus residents.
Students who plan to travel home for Thanksgiving are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test before visiting their families, according to an OU announcement.
They are advised to get tested again upon their return to campus, if they don't intend to stay home.
Both universities conduct free on-campus testing, randomized testing and wastewater tests to detect COVID-19.
Universities across the country have canceled spring break to discourage student travel.
Bratzler said calendar adjustments are more necessary as fl u season begins.
“This is especially important as the seasons change, and the combined impact of influenza and COVID-19 spread could be incredibly detrimental to our campus and the surrounding community ,” he said.