Kansas City area college summer classes will still be online only because of COVID-19
Area universities, which for weeks have been delivering online-only classes, say they expect more of the same for the summer.
The University of Missouri and University of Kansas announced they will offer no in-person classes for the summer semester, in efforts to continue combating the spread of COVID-19.
“As we continue to see the COVID-19 public health crisis spread throughout the U.S., and with deadlines approaching for our summer session, we are making the decision to continue all of our remote learning for the 2020 summer term,” Latha Ramchand, MU’s provost and executive vice chancellor, said Monday in a note to students and faculty.
MU faculty members were not surprised. “It was refreshing to have it formally announced,” said Clark Peters, an associate professor and chair of the Faculty Council.
Last Wednesday, University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod made a similar announcement.
University of Missouri-Kansas City intends to offer online-only classes earlier in the summer — for its eight-week session June 8 to July 31 and a five-week session May 6 to June 26. But it hopes to offer some classes in person during the second five-week session, June 29 to July 31.
“Our plan at this time is for certain courses in the second five-week session to be taught in person and others to be taught online,” said John Martellaro, UMKC spokesman.
University of Central Missouri also plans for summer classes to be online only. Kansas State University, Johnson County Community College and Rockhurst University have not yet made a decision on the summer semester.
The universities have not yet decided whether all campus operations will remain shut down through the summer.
At MU, employees were originally asked to report back to work April 13. That has been extended through the end of April and could still change. For now, on the Columbia campus, some residence halls have remained open for roughly 300 students who had no other place to go.
When Girod made his announcement about KU’s summer session, he also said the university is initiating a hiring freeze.
“Even though we’ve taken great measures to ensure the university continues to operate and students continue to learn under these extraordinary circumstances, the pandemic has already had a significant financial impact on our institution,” Girod said in a note to the campus community.
“The uncertainty of these times requires us to take precautions that will help us weather what we can expect will be a continuing hardship.” He said a hiring freeze “will serve as an initial step to address financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic” and will help the university “begin to re-establish our financial footing as we map out a structured recovery plan.”
Last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he is reducing funding to Missouri’s public universities and community colleges to the tune of $80 million in response to budget constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state’s four-year colleges could see spending reduced by around $61 million. The cuts to community college budgets total around $11 million. Other budget cuts will affect facilities and maintenance and other areas.
Girod said the university is attempting to address student requests for refunds for services they have not received, including housing and food.
Missouri State University is giving students who have checked out of the dorms by April 12 a 40% credit on housing charges.
At MU, and UMKC, students who left the halls by April 3 are eligible for a 45% discount, based on the price they paid for the spring housing. For dining plans, students will get a credit for the fall semester. Those not returning in the fall will get refunds.
