From The Tribune staff reports
TUSCALOOSA – The University of Alabama plans to reopen its doors this coming fall for on-campus instruction pending any unforeseen circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Finis E. St. John IV told AL.com in an interview on Wednesday.
“We are expecting to have a fall semester at all of our universities,” St. John told the outlet. “We are expecting it to be on the regular schedule. We understand that things could happen that make it impossible, but that’s what we are planning for at this time.”
The university has already been in the process of readying the campus for a return to physical classes.
The UA student newspaper, The Crimson White, published a story on April 14 stating that a “task force will consider testing measures, enhanced cleaning, classroom procedures, housing policies, security and wellness programs, and the provision of personal protective equipment in developing a comprehensive plan to protect students, faculty and staff.”
Though the university remains optimistic in its vision for a return to normalcy, these past few weeks and months have shown that even the best laid plans are at the mercy of nature and the ability of humans to remain patient and vigilant.
The university, like others across the nation, have turned to remote learning these past few months as states have issued stay-at-home orders and shuttered the doors of learning institutions.