Faculty senate urges North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics to move to fully remote learning

As residential students returned to campus this week at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the faculty senate of the school pushed back on a plan that would allow for a mix of in-person and online learning.

The senate passed a resolution Tuesday asking that all classes be taught remotely and that faculty and students be given time to adjust to the new way of learning. Because NCSSM is a member of the UNC System, it is subject to a Board of Governors rule that campuses offer face-to-face classes in the fall. The board has said decisions to close campuses would be made at the system level.

In its resolution, the NCSSM faculty senate emphasized "the particular characteristics of our school’s residential setting including shared living and eating spaces along with our responsibility to care for minors in loco parentis" is asking for fully remote instruction.

According to the fall semester calendar published on the school website, a high school juniors and seniors would have moved back onto campus this weekend, with the first day of in-person classes scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25.

NCSSM allowed any individual student to opt for online-only education. Those who did not were divided into two groups, with "Cohort A beginning the semester on campus in August, while the other Cohort B participates remotely from their home community. In October, the cohorts will switch places, with Cohort A returning home to finish the semester, and Cohort B moving onto campus until Thanksgiving break. After Thanksgiving break, all students will finish the term remotely. While on campus, students will attend class in a hybrid (in-person and remote) or fully remote format depending on the course."

One UNC System school, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shifted to online-only learning after just a week of classes this week after a series of coronavirus clusters was identified in student housing.