Atlanta HBCUs Decide On All Virtual Learning For Fall

ATLANTA, GA — Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark University officials made the announcement Monday that students will not return to campus when school starts.

The historically Black colleges and universities said they will continue remote learning for the fall semester.

The decision was made due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in Atlanta and states, reported WSB.

“As much as I wanted to see the men of Morehouse return to campus for classes on Aug. 19, the spike in COVID-19 cases in Georgia and across the nation, warrants us to change course to protect the health and safety of Morehouse students, faculty, and staff,” said Morehouse president, David Thomas.

“Many of our target enrollment areas are facing outbreaks. And as families use their summer vacation to travel both locally and out of state, Morehouse could not guarantee the well-being of our community for in-person instruction, even with the rigorous safety protocols that we were planning. I believe that continuing online learning is our most prudent path forward.”

Morehouse classes will be conducted online from Aug. 19 through Nov. 20, with no fall break.

Resident halls will remain closed, although one will remain open for 40 international students and those in critical need, reported WXIA.

In a letter to first-year students at Spelman, President Mary Schmidt Campbell said the data is "sobering."

"It was just 19 days ago, on July 1, when we published our plan, fully anticipating that, as summer progressed, the virus would subside. Quite the opposite has been the case. An honest appraisal of the evolving facts compelled us to change course," she said. "I can imagine how disappointing this must be for some of you. For others, the change may bring a sense of relief, because, as much as our hearts want to be together, our heads must guide us in these uncertain times. Let me share with you what we are doing to ensure that your community engagement and virtual learning experience will be as enriching as it can possibly be."

Clark Atlanta President George T. French, Jr. said these have been the "most unusual times any of us has ever seen."