MSU resuming in-person classes Jan. 31 after 3 weeks online
EAST LANSING — Michigan State University students will resume in-person classes Jan. 31 after spending the first three weeks of the semester online.
MSU announced the return to in-person learning in a Friday letter signed by President Samuel Stanley Jr. and other administrators.
The spring semester started at MSU Jan. 10 with most classes held virtually. Stanley’s original plans called for online learning through at least the first three weeks of the semester after the holiday break. Residence halls and cafeterias reopened during that time for returning students.
“We want to thank you for your cooperation over the past weeks as we began the semester with campus open, but most courses delivered remotely,” the letter reads. “...We continued to monitor campus-related cases and believe the numbers are plateauing, which is consistent with the rapid rise and fall of Omicron infections seen in other outbreaks.”
New COVID-19 cases on campus reached an all-time high for this academic year in January, rising to 258 the week of Dec. 27 and 661 the week of Jan. 3.
Total new cases fell to 546 the week of Jan. 10, according to the most recent COVID-19 data published on MSU’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The previous high this school year was 146 cases in September 2021.
“With our continued mask mandate, high vaccination rates and most students and faculty boosted, we believe we are well-positioned to resume in-person classes Monday, Jan. 31, as planned,” according to the letter.
The letter encouraged staff and students to continue following COVID-19 safety protocols once in-person classes resume, including getting a COVID-19 booster shot when eligible, monitoring health for signs of COVID-19 symptoms and following MSU’s face covering policy, which requires masks be worn in all buildings.
COVID-19 testing is available on campus at Spartan Stadium for symptomatic people.
Contact Mark Johnson at 517-377-1026 or at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU resuming in-person classes Jan. 31 after 3 weeks online
