HARTFORD, Conn. _ Yale University announced its plans for the coming fall and spring semesters in a communitywide email Wednesday, outlining a strategy of on-campus housing staggered by grade level, nearly all undergraduate classes delivered remotely, and required weekly COVID-19 testing for most students.
"These decisions are possible because of the continued decline in community transmission of COVID-19 in Connecticut, the creation of a universitywide COVID-19 screening program, and the implementation of other health and safety actions," Yale President Peter Salovey wrote in his email to the university community.
But he warned that while the rate of COVID-19 infection has diminished in Connecticut, the pandemic continues and requires "prioritizing the common good over individual preferences."
In the fall 2020 semester, first-years, juniors and seniors will have the option to live in residential colleges and other campus housing, while in the spring 2021 semester, sophomores, juniors and seniors will be afforded the option. Those restrictions will decrease the number of students in on-campus housing by 60%, enabling social distancing measures, according to the email.
Nearly all undergraduate classes will be taught remotely, including small courses like writing seminars and introductory language classes. While the "bulk of instruction" will be delivered remotely, some courses may have "in-person supplements" when possible. A small number of classes, including laboratory or studio courses, will meet in-person in a socially distanced setting.
First-years and sophomores who enroll in the coming semesters will have the option to take two courses in summer 2021, with the tuition fees for two credits waived.
Graduate and professional courses will mostly be offered remotely, though some will be conducted in-person with social distancing.
All undergraduate students, whether they live on-campus or off-campus, "will be tested upon arrival to campus and will be required to undergo viral testing weekly throughout the semester," according to the plan. Graduate and professional students living on-campus will also be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 tests and those living off-campus will be required to take a test once at the start of the fall semester, with additional tests possible if concerns about exposure arise.
All students arriving in New Haven from abroad or states with high infection rates of COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days.
Students living on-campus who test positive for COVID-19 will be isolated in separate university housing for at least 14 days; those who live off-campus will be asked to isolate at home for at least 14 days. Yale Health will provide medical care for any student with COVID-19 symptoms.
Yale encourages any faculty members and staff aged 65 or older who have compromising health conditions to work at home when possible.
The university urges all community members to maintain 6 feet of social distancing, wear face coverings when in public, wash hands frequently and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Buildings and facilities will be disinfected regularly, performances will not be held to limit crowds, and meal service will be modified. Short-term visits (of less than a full semester) will not be permitted, and travel outside Connecticut will be discouraged.
The Ivy League will announce a decision about fall athletic competition July 8.
