UPDATED: 12:45 p.m.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) -- West Chester University already made a decision on the spring semester. Officials say remote learning is here to stay because of lingering concerns about the coronavirus. Winter and spring sports were also canceled.
University President Dr. Christopher Fiorentino made the announcement, and explained the decision, in a video posted on the school’s website on Wednesday.
“Exacerbated by spikes in many states and the onset of the seasonal flu, the latest scientific forecasts are predicting the pandemic will continue to be unyielding through the winter and spring months,” Fiorentino said. “Additionally, there’s not enough information on the availability of rapid testing or a vaccine on a sufficient scale for us to be confident enough to announce and plan for a spring semester that includes a return to in-person instruction.”
Some hybrid courses, which include some in-person learning, will be available in the spring. Students are now able to go over course information, but the final schedules will be released on Oct. 19.
Evan Brooks, a West Chester junior, says he wasn’t surprised by the decision, but he just transferred and says he can’t help but think about what he’s missing out on.
“So, my only experience of West Chester will be online. And my only experience of professors and students will only be online," he said. "So, on that part, it’s kind of disappointing.”
Student Government Association President Molly Scollo says, as a senior, she also can’t help but think about some of the things the students can’t enjoy right now.
"That social aspect -- basketball games, football games, Homecoming. These big, large events that are crucial to West Chester’s experience."
Still, both say, they understand why the decision was made.
“Yeah, I think the University made a right call," Scollo said.
Just last week, West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin declared a state of emergency because of a spike in COVID-19 cases among young adults staying in apartments in the borough. Herrin didn’t mention the university, but Scollo says off-campus parties have been a problem.
“It’s just so concerning to see students who are not taking it seriously, and I think if we were to continue in the spring semester without taking the right precautions, I just worry for the safety of our students,” Scollo said.
“You can see it all over the borough. I mean, all weekend long, people not doing what they need to be doing."
And until that happens or the virus is contained, she says, remote learning is fine with her.
“I do wish that we could be in-person," Scollo said, acknowledging that other students and their families may think the university is overreacting, "but I think the decision to go virtual was in the best interest of the health and safety of our community.”
West Chester’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Zebulun Davenport, says the decision was not an easy one, but they believe it will keep students safe.
“If there’s a student crisis, if there’s somebody that gets sick, if there’s somebody that dies, I’m usually the one that has to navigate those conversations, or help parents collect (students’) items, and that’s the worst part of my job,” Davenport said.
He said coaches are trying to keep the student-athletes engaged virtually and, as a former student himself, understands how disappointed they are.
“But my hope is they understand the decision wasn’t made lightly and that they understand the agony that we put into making that decision, knowing we were gonna disappoint some of our students.”
He mentioned the challenges for professional football and baseball teams that have had to postpone games following positive COVID-19 cases -- and the fact that the NBA had to complete its season in a "bubble."
“(The professional leagues) are doing everything they can do to try to keep people safe and even investing millions of dollars. They’re not able to do that. And we don’t have that kind of money to invest.”