The majority of students will not be returning to campus in the fall until after Sept. 27, and will instead begin classes online Aug. 24.
Within this phased return, undergraduate and graduate students whose programs require in-person experiences for accreditation or those who need access to specific equipment will be able to return to campus under the university’s safety protocols. Students with extenuating circumstances, like international students or those experiencing homelessness, are still able to apply for on-campus housing, according to the announcement on the Bobcats Be Safe website.
Undergraduate students on all of OU’s campuses will have the option to arrange an entirely online semester, the website said. Graduate students will as well, with the exception of medical students in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Undergraduate students included in Phase 1 programs will know if they are selected to return to campus by Aug. 4, and graduate students will be notified by Aug. 7.
Safety protocols that students, faculty and staff on campus will have to follow include taking their body temperature daily before leaving their residence as well as the monitoring of common symptoms of the coronavirus, including, but not limited to, a temperature of over 100.4 degrees, respiratory symptoms, like a dry cough or shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell.
Additionally, students, faculty and staff will have to follow the university’s mask policy, as all people on campus are required to wear a face covering. The university will provide every staff member, faculty member and student two masks upon their return to campus.
A 6-foot distance is required between people who are not in the same household at all times around campus, and signage has been placed around campus in an attempt to eliminate crowding.
The university will continue to seek advice from public health officials and monitor the conditions for bringing all students back to campus after Sept. 28.
