Wright State mixing it up this fall

Launch of new academic year to include options for in-class and virtual instruction, school says.

Wright State University will allow students back on campus in the fall with a mix of in-class and virtual instructions, officials said Tuesday as they announced their COVID-19 reopening plan.

Some students such as Franklin native Jackson Cornwell and Springfield resident Mathis Amidon said they are excited to return to campus. While the students understand the university had to transition to virtual instructions because of the coronavirus pandemic, they prefer to be in the classroom with their professors and classmates.

“I think Wright State did great with the virtual classroom, but it’s just not my cup of tea,” said Cornwell, a political science major who will be a senior in the fall.

“I thrive on face-to-face interactions, so I will not miss (the online instruction).”

The university released the reopening plan in a campus email. Its leaders say they “conservatively” estimate that a third of classes will have an in-person presence of some sort, while most in-person classes will also deliver all content remotely for students “who are unable or do not feel comfortable returning to campus.”

And the university said it will resume Division I athletics starting July 6 “in a systematic and controlled nature.”

The bottom line is that university leaders expect fewer students and employees on campus, and those present will be expected to follow rigorous safety protocols.

“When you come to campus, it will feel different,” Wright State President Sue Edwards said.

Many on-campus classes will have fewer students in attendance in each class section than they normally would, Wright State said. “Large enrollment lecture-based courses will be delivered remotely, with the opportunity for students to engage in discussion via chats or discussion forums.”

Classes such as practica, clinicals, lab sections and lab-based courses, studio courses in the arts, active learning courses and more will have some on-campus elements.

“Details of which courses will be on campus and which will be remote are being finalized and will be communicated to the campus community in the coming weeks,” the university said.

The university added that only

research that requires campus facilities has been conducted on campus. “General office activities, data analysis and writing continue to be done remotely in order to minimize the number of staff in the research buildings at any time.”

At the beginning of Thanksgiving break, Nov. 25, all classes will move to fully remote delivery for the rest of the semester. Final exams will be taken remotely, and at this time, fall commencement is planned for Dec. 12.

All residential housing communities will be open for fall semester — with reduced occupancy — for students who want to live in one of Wright State’s residence halls or on-campus apartments, including on the Lake Campus.

The university will not be able to hold its annual Move-In Day but instead will have staggered arrivals over several days in August for students moving into campus housing.

Sports

For the department of athletics, the tentative early return schedule for teams is:

■ July 6: Men’s basketball

■ July 13: Cross-country, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball

■ July 20: Baseball, golf, track and field and women’s basketball

Wright State has implemented new protocols that all students, employees and visitors must follow while on the Fairborn campus and Lake Campus.

These include social distancing, daily health assessments, hand washing, cleaning surfaces and face coverings.

As more people begin returning to campus, Edwards said faculty, staff, students and visitors are expected to comply with all safety policies, protocols and guidelines.

Complying with those protocols will be essential, said Amidon, a junior communication major.

“If everyone just follow the social distancing rules, we should have a smooth first semester,” he said.