Will Your College Open This Fall?

It sounds like a silly question, but for many colleges and universities, it’s a pressing question for students and alumni: Will your college open this fall?

Here’s what you need to know.

Will Colleges Reopen?

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated entire sectors of the economy - from travel to restaurants to transportation. One area of the “economy” that is often overlooked is higher education. This includes college and graduate students as well as faculty, staff and other employees and contractors that make our colleges and universities run smoothly. As a result of COVID-19, most colleges and universities have at least partially closed their physical campuses to some extent. Classes and lectures have largely moved online to remote learning, while dorms have been closed.

Despite this, colleges and universities are still operating and students are still learning and completing assignments. However, the question is for how long will this new normal last. As public leaders in states and cities ponder an economic and health game plan to open, colleges and universities also must make a critical decision about how and when they will reopen their campus. Many colleges and universities have formed task forces to study this critical issue, which involves a multi-faceted approach built around health, virus testing, safety, learning, social interaction, online versus in-person instruction, and of course the financial realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

7 Colleges On Whether They Will Reopen This Fall

Here is a list of some (not all) of the colleges and universities that have announced plans to reopen their campus this fall, or at least when they will make an announcement to reopen. Of course, public health or other data may change the overall decision (or timing of any announcement of a decision).

1. Boston University

Boston University plans to reopen its residential campus this fall. Boston University President Robert A. Brown is focused on a COVID-19 Recovery Plan and has assembled working groups to help reopen the campus in accordance with public health. “We are now in a position to focus on the fall and the best and safest way in which to bring the residential teaching and research community back onto campus when time and public health considerations permit,” Brown said. If public health officials do not allow the campus to reopen in Fall 2020, the university’s contingency plan would allow for a later return to campus, including later in the semester or in January 2021, for example.

2. Brown University

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson wrote in the New York Times that reopening colleges and university campuses should be a national priority. “Colleges and universities must be able to safely handle the possibility of infection on campus while maintaining the continuity of their core academic functions,” Paxson wrote. Paxson created a Healthy Fall 2020 Task Force to plan carefully for a return to Brown’s campus this fall. Paxson says that regular testing for COVID-19 is a must, including testing when students return and ongoing testing throughout the academic year. Also, until a vaccine is developed, students may have to wear masks, some large lectures may still be online, and collegiate sports may take place in empty stadiums.

3. Cornell University

Cornell President Martha E. Pollack provided a COVID-19 update to the Cornell community last week. According to Pollack, the COVID-19 pandemic will cost Cornell’s Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses $160 - $210 million by the end of the next fiscal year. The vast majority of this estimated cost - about $145 million - is for the increased need for financial aid for Cornell students. For at least two years thereafter, the longer-term impact for Cornell could be $40 million annually. Weill Cornell Medicine has already experienced a loss of $200 million, according to Pollack. Pollack has established four planning committees for “reactivating the university and for saving resources.” All committees will submit their recommendations to Pollack by the end of June.

4. Harvard University

Harvard will reopen this fall, according to Harvard Provost Alan Garber. In an open letter to the Harvard community Garber recognizes that COVID-19 may bring a “scenario in which much or all learning will be conducted remotely.” Garber notes that Harvard College as well as its graduate and professional schools will communicate separately with its students, faculty and staff about policies and procedures. For example, Harvard College could have separate procedures and policies regarding a return to campus than Harvard Law School or Harvard Medical School. Garber says that Harvard will need to analyze the “epidemiological data and public health models” to ensure how and when the Harvard community can return to campus.

5. Ohio State

Ohio State President Michael V. Drake said a final decision about reopening the campus will be made by late June. Drake told The Lantern, Ohio State’s undergraduate newspaper, that students returning to campus could expect to wear masks, have both online and hybrid courses, and practice other social distancing strategies. Ohio State has been communicating with its sister university, Wuhan University, about Wuhan University’s plans to return students to campus. Drake announced a task force earlier this month to study the issue, and will continue to assess the health data before reaching a final decision.

6. Purdue

Purdue President Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. says that Purdue plans to accept students back to campus this fall. Daniels recognizes that “COVID-19 will remain a fact of life this autumn” and that “no vaccine can be counted on until 2021 at the soonest.” Pre-testing and continual testing of students, faculty and staff could become a reality. In a message to the Purdue community, Daniels cited a few examples for how Purdue could operate in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including potentially that classes could be spread across days and times to reduce their size, online instruction could increase, and laboratory work could be made virtual. Daniels says the university also will consider new policies and practice to keep those with underlying health problems separate from (or least minimal contact) from the broader university population.

7. University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves and Interim President Designate Jay Hartzell wrote the University of Texas community that they will announce the university’s fall plans by the end of June. A university-wide task force is evaluating all types of questions ranging from testing and how best to bring students, faculty and staff safely back to campus to social distancing and remote learning. (For many UT football fans, another important question is when the Longhorns can play football in its stadium again). Fenves and Hartzell also say the task force is coordinating with state and city officials as well as off-campus housing providers.

Helpful Resources: Student Loans

Here’s everything that’s happened to your student loans in 2 weeks

How to pay your student loans during Coronavirus

How to get financial relief for your student loans during Coronavirus

How to get relief for your private student loans

Should you pay off student loans during COVID-19?

How to apply for unemployment

These companies are hiring despite Coronavirus

What you need to know about paid sick leave during Coronavirus

Do you qualify for paid sick leave?

How to contact your student loan servicer

5 ways to lower your student loan payments during Coronavirus

Student loan refinancing rates are incredibly cheap

Disclosure: Zack Friedman is a graduate of Harvard.