Princeton University To Bring Back Students For Spring Semester

Sarah Salvadore
Updated ·3 min read

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton University on Tuesday announced it was bringing back all undergraduate students to campus in February 2021.

In a message to the community, University President Christopher Eisgruber said most instruction will remain online, and classes with an in-person component will be offered in a “hybrid” format to accommodate remote students.

The university president said the decision was made after Princeton “cultivated strong public health norms and practices” on campus, regularly monitored and learned from experiences, and established an on-campus testing laboratory.

Students have until Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. to declare their intention to live on campus. They must move in no later than Jan. 17.

“As our undergraduates consider whether to opt for a residential or a remote experience this spring, we encourage them to think carefully about the special responsibilities and conditions associated with participating in our residential community while the pandemic continues,” Eisgruber said.

Here’s what students can expect once back on campus:

  • Masking and social distancing requirements will apply throughout campus.

  • All undergraduate students residing on campus or in the Princeton area will be required to participate in the University’s coronavirus testing program and to comply strictly with all instructions related to contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation.

  • Parties and most other social gatherings will be prohibited.

  • Undergraduate students will be prohibited from hosting visitors and will be restricted from traveling.

  • All returning undergraduates, including those from New Jersey, will be required to quarantine upon arrival to campus.

  • To reduce the risk of spread within dormitories, students will be housed on a one-to-a-bedroom basis. Depending on demand, some students may be housed proximate to campus rather than on it.

  • The university may have to “lock down” all or part of the campus for extended periods because of high infection rates at the University or in the surrounding community.

“In light of this work, we have concluded that, if we test the campus population regularly and if everyone on campus rigorously adheres to public health guidance about masking, social distancing and other practices, we can welcome a far greater number of students back to Princeton,” Eisgruber said.

Students and families can find more information here: https://spring2021.princeton.e...

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases across the state and in Princeton township continue to spike. Eisgruber said he anticipates infection rates in the country and in New Jersey to remain high in February. As a result, the university will impost limits to outdoor interactions.

Back in October the university announced it was working to bring back students for spring semester.

Read More Here: Princeton University Prepares To Bring Back Students In Spring

Eisgruber had then said a announcement on the final decision will be made in the first week of December.

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This article originally appeared on the Princeton Patch