'Disappointing reality': Duke begins spring semester in remote learning
On Wednesday, when classes begin, Duke University's classrooms will be empty as the spring semester starts virtually.
Last week, Duke announced classes will be held remotely until at least Tuesday, Jan. 18, due the fast-spreading omicron variant and a rise in COVID-19 cases. Dorms have opened, but students were strongly encouraged to wait until closer to Jan. 18 to return to campus.
In a press release, university leaders said the community has an incredibly high number of positive cases across their workforce and increasing numbers among students.
They anticipated a high number of people would test positive upon returning to campus, which would force them to isolate anyway. They also called the move to remote learning a “disappointing reality.”
“Having done so much online last spring, and then last semester being able to do a lot more in-person ... it’s just so much easier to be a student when you’re able to be in the classroom," said Duke student Abby Muehlstein. "So, I’m hoping that by the time my classes start after MLK day, that we’ll be able to do that, but we’ll see.”
Duke is requiring students, staff and faculty to get a coronavirus booster shot as soon as they are able. Duke's requirement is the strictest of the local universities to fight the spread of the latest omicron variant. Both North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are requiring tests for students returning for the spring semester, but vaccines and boosters are not required.
Colleges and other schools across our area are also facing difficult decisions because of COVID-19.
North Carolina Central University begins the spring semester in-person next week, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University will start their spring semesters on Monday. A decision has yet to be made about if classes will begin remotely or in person.
