BALTIMORE (AP) - Towson University will hold classes online for the rest of the fall semester after a surge in COVID-19 cases of unknown origin, the school’s president said Wednesday.
In a letter to the campus, President Kim Schatzel said that 55 positive tests were reported by health officials last Saturday, with 52 of them identified as students. Another 11 positive tests were reported on Sunday. Prior to Saturday, 17 students, staff or faculty had tested positive for COVID-19 at the University Health Center, Schatzel said.
Schatzel said the outbreak cannot be linked to amy gathering or party. Classes began on Monday.
“As we have seen take place both nationally and locally, each university must decide a path for themselves based on campus and local conditions,” Schatzel said. “I have decided, despite the great planning and outstanding efforts by dozens and dozens of our TU colleagues to prepare our campus, it is unlikely that we will not see more incidents of COVID-19 surge if we continue to return to campus as first planned.”
Towson had adopted a plan in June to have 85% of instruction online and less than 50% occupancy for its residence halls.
Schatzel said refunds will be promptly issued to residential students who already paid for housing and dining plans for the fall term. Also, she said the school will continue to provide a safe place for international students and others with significant hardships and circumstances inside the school’s residence halls.
Students can begin moving out of residence halls immediately and must be completely out by Sept. 4, according to a university email to students. Those who wish to remain on campus must request to do so. Student athletes, students with internships and those in certain laboratory, clinical and experiential courses in the arts will be permitted to continue living on campus.
While Wednesday’s announcement covers the fall semester, it provides no guidance for the spring semester, set to start Jan. 25.
Towson, located outside of Baltimore, has an enrollment of nearly 23,000 students, according to its website.
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