Temple to offer in-person and virtual instruction for Fall 2020
Temple University announced today that its main campus will reopen in phases over the summer and hold classes both in-person and virtually for the Fall 2020 semester.
Fall semester classes will begin on Aug. 24 as scheduled and in-person instruction will end on Nov. 20, with the final week of classes and exams taking place remotely. “Very large” classes will take place virtually and smaller classes will offer in-person instruction or a hybrid, The Temple News reported. However, the university is prepared to shift entirely to virtual instruction if necessary, according to the release.
Temple is currently in the first phase of its five-part plan to reopen Main Campus in preparation for the fall semester. This first phase permits medical and safety staff, and construction and facilities workers to work on campus.
Temple will transition into the second phase in a few weeks by allowing research and clinics to resume at select locations on campus. Beginning on June 23, Temple will enter the third phase by offering in-person instruction for a small number of classes in the Summer II session. The university plans to use this phase as a way to test procedures and protocols for the fall semester.
The fourth phase will begin on Aug. 1 as the university adjusts to students moving into the neighborhood surrounding Main Campus. The fifth phase will begin in mid-August as students move into university residence halls before the start of the fall semester.
In addition to the phased reopening plan, the announcement outlined four “public health pillars” that will guide the Temple community in preventing the spread of COVID-19. These pillars call for everyone to wear face coverings inside campus facilities, frequently wash or sanitize their hands, practice social distancing and monitor their health daily.
Temple plans to move its COVID-19 testing site from its current location at 1700 N. Broad St. to the street level of Morgan Hall on Cecil B. Moore Ave. Student and Employee Health Services has established a contact tracing unit to notify city and state health officials when staff or students test positive, The Temple News reported.
Temple Japan and Temple Rome plan to follow similar guidelines as Main Campus and are in the process of lifting restrictions, according to the announcement. University international travel is suspended for faculty until June 30 and for students until Aug. 15, The Temple News reported.
Temple will update its travel restrictions on the 15th of each month to comply with international, national, state and local guidelines.
Temple will release updates on the return plan on its official COVID-19 informational webpage along with information for students, parents, faculty and staff, according to the announcement.
