CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Fall semester starts on Monday at UNC Charlotte. The University starting the year online.
Up until 2 weeks before the start of the semester, UNC Charlotte students thought they’d be learning on campus and in person. Monday, they start online instead, with the hope and plan to be safely on campus in October.
The decision to start the year online was made after thousands of college students across the country tested positive for coronavirus.
At UNCC, there was a cluster of cases tied to off-campus housing. Eight students who live together tested positive were isolated and have since recovered.
Out of state students still moved to the Charlotte area this weekend. Around 550 students all in one apartment, University Crossings. There, management says they’ve made changes and put protocols in place to keep students as safe as possible.
After seeing other universities across the state start in-person and then move online due to COVID-19 clusters, Tahlieah Sampson, UNC Charlotte student body president, said members of the student government drafted a letter to the administration with their concerns about returning to in-person learning.
"I really just want the best for our student body academically, physically, and mentally,” Sampson said. “I think that having these first few weeks online was a smart idea because we're not the only school in Charlotte that's starting school at this time."
Sampson said she is encouraged by seeing how students who are on campus at UNC Charlotte are handling simple tasks like wearing masks.
"Our student body, they are taking this pandemic very seriously,” Sampson said. “They understand what can happen if students have an off-campus party or like an on-campus party and the repercussions that may come with that."
Even though they are learning online, students and staff are still asked to track their symptoms every day, giving university officials the data they need to make an informed decision on if and when to reopen.
Football fans won’t be allowed at the home opener on September 26, and the university still hasn’t decided if they’ll be allowed at any games this season.
In-person learning is expected to begin on October 1.