Amherst, NY (WBEN) UB says it will transition to remote learning once Thanksgiving break arrives next week for the remainder of the fall semester.
UB says it intends to maintain in-person instruction as scheduled, giving the university time to complete SUNY-mandated pre-break testing of thousands of students before they leave for the break.
"As we prepare to wind down in-person instruction on Tuesday, November 24, in accordance with our fall 2020 academic semester calendar, it is absolutely critical that our students are tested before leaving for the Thanksgiving break," UB President Satish K. Tripathi said in a message to the UB community.
UB says more than 11,500 UB students, faculty and staff have completed their required testing since Nov. 9. UB's low positivity rate – 0.44% compared to nearly 6% in Erie County over a rolling 7-day average – was another major factor in deciding that the university could safely continue campus operations until Nov. 24, the last day of in-person instruction before UB transitions to remote learning on Nov. 30.
UB is projected to hit the 1oo-case threshold for on-campus coronavirus cases, which would require the university to transition to remote learning immediately. UB says in-person student programs and activities will be suspended and campus dining and food service operations will offer takeout service only beginning Thursday, Nov. 19. Athletics activities will continue as scheduled, strictly following NCAA, Mid-American Conference and UB health guidelines.
After the break, UB transitions to fully remote instruction, with the exception of students who need to complete in-person clinical, laboratory or other activities required to obtain or maintain professional licensure, or research that must be conducted in person. The fall semester concludes Dec. 21.
