Stanford University on Saturday canceled plans to have its freshmen and sophomore students return to campus for the winter quarter.
In a letter posted on the university’s website, Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Provost Persis Drell wrote that the decision was made after assessing the continued surge in COVID-19 cases and the extension by California officials of the Bay Area region’s stay-at-home order.
“The worsening COVID-19 circumstances have now eroded our expectations about the experience we could deliver to undergraduates in the winter months,” the officials said.
Stanford last reaffirmed its commitment to having students on campus in December, 2020.
In the past week, the school welcomed back graduate students, professional students and undergraduate students with approved special circumstances.
All undergraduates with special circumstances and RAs can continue to live on campus, the officials wrote.
Stanford’s winter quarter begins January 11, and all classes will continue to be available online.
Drell and Tessier-Lavigne said they are still planning to invite freshmen and sophomores to be on campus for the summer quarter, if conditions allow.
