Franklin College students will wrap up the semester virtually.
The final three weeks of classes will be conducted online, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17, according to an email Franklin College officials sent to staff and students Friday.
Franklin College President Kerry Prather said he wants all students to learn the same way as they end the semester, which was becoming increasingly difficult due to a rise in the number of students who are out due to COVID-19, including students who tested positive and those who had to quarantine due to exposure to someone who tested positive.
“The increased number of students requiring virtual instruction as a result of quarantine and isolation protocols has significantly complicated the efforts of our faculty to deliver a consistent academic experience across modalities,” Prather said in the email.
“We have decided that our students will be served best academically if classes transition to an exclusively virtual format for the final weeks of the semester after Thanksgiving break. This certainty will allow professors to adjust classroom instruction and create end-of-semester exams that are consistent for all students.”
Some classes that hinge on in-person instruction, such as labs, art or music, may continue to be held in person, but that decision is up to professors. Students who live on campus can continue to reside on campus. The only change is the delivery of instruction, Prather said.
College officials also made changes to the college’s immersive January term. Students who would normally complete service projects and internships are asked to postpone those, unless they are seniors who need to complete them in January to graduate on time. In that case, the college would provide the host organization with the school’s safety protocols, he said.
During the winter term, from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, classes will likely be hybrid — a mix of in-person and virtual instruction, Prather said.
The decision to wait a week to go virtual was due to Thanksgiving break, which is just four days away, Prather said.
“It’s just the convenience of the clean break at Thanksgiving time because students will leave after Tuesday classes next week,” Prather said. “The purpose of going virtual is to avoid the academic complication of accommodating a growing number of students online with fewer students in person. We wanted to achieve some consistency as we approach final exam periods.”
Residence halls and dining services won’t be affected, Prather said in the email Friday.
“The level of COVID-19 infection on campus based on surveillance testing is well within the standards of safety established and maintained by our health care professionals,” he said. “The campus will remain open and all institutional services and activities will continue as usual.”
Franklin College reported seven COVID-19 cases last week, increasing the campus total to 68. Although that was an increase from the previous two weeks, the number of weekly cases is less than half of its peak. During three of the four weeks from Sept. 28 to Oct. 25, the college reported at least 16 cases, according to Franklin College.
A decision on the spring semester has not been finalized. As of now, classes will be held in person, Prather said.
