Returning To College Amid The Pandemic
WAAY 31's Alexis Scott speaks with Athens State University on what it, and other schools in North Alabama, are doing to safely..
On tuesday.
Most of the focus is on k-12 but the clock is ticking for college students returning to campus.
Most plan to reopen next month.
Students need to decide if they want to live in dorms or even risk returning to the classroom.
Waay 31's ashley carter learned the pros and cons one student is considering before making a decision.
Chauncy sanders, college student: "from watching the news and seeing the spikes that have been going on from other states, including alabama, there definitely has been a little bit of worry."
Chauncy sanders is excited but a little nervous about making the 500 mile trip from ohio to huntsville for the fall semester.
Chauncy sanders, college student: "what do they have in place if they do shut down?
Are we going to have to stay on campus and just work online from campus, or are we going to have to do what we did last semester and just shut it all down and have a week to move out?
That plays a part in it because if we're having to travel back and forth that's going to cost some money, especially for us out of state students."
Alabama a&m's released a re- opening plan earlier this summer.
It requires students, faculty and visitors to wear masks everywhere on campus...perform temperature checks in certain facilities and follow social distancing guidelines in classrooms. the school also increased sanitation across campus a&m students can chose between a hybrid instruction model where students learn in person and online...or an online only option.
Chauncy sanders, college student: "they've took precautions, and they have in place a ground set of rules and standards that they'll go by and we hope that they can get back to normal."
Sanders is satisfied the school's plan includes a system to quarantine students exposed to the virus.
He told me despite some fears he's trying to remain positive and believes the school is doing everything possible to keep students safe.
Chauncy sanders, college student: "i'm really really encouraged from what i saw from my professors, and what i saw from my president andrew hugine."
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WAAY 31's Alexis Scott speaks with Athens State University on what it, and other schools in North Alabama, are doing to safely..