GCU revises back-to-school plan for fall semester due to coronavirus
Jul 17, 2020, 5:00 PM | Updated: 6:36 pm
(Grand Canyon University Photo)
PHOENIX — Grand Canyon University on Friday became the latest Arizona college to adjust plans for the fall semester because of the state’s continued battle with coronavirus.
The private university moved back the semester’s start date to Sept. 8 and will offer remote learning until Sept. 28.
Grand Canyon previously planned to start the semester Aug. 24 with in-person instruction.
Additionally, students who plan to live in on-campus housing will move in on the week of Sept. 21.
The university will pro-rate housing costs as a result of the adjusted semester.
“Grand Canyon University has been working diligently to make the fall semester not only the safest environment that we can but also the most robust on-campus experience academically, spiritually and socially for our students,” the university said in a letter to students.
Most students will have the option to take classes 100% online for the first semester or even the entire 2020-21 academic year if its more suitable.
GCU intends to end the fall semester Dec. 18.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins said Thursday individual professors will decide whether to teach their fall classes in person, remotely or in a hybrid fashion.
The university switched to remote learning last March but announced in April that it planned to resume in-person instruction on the Tucson campus in the fall. The fall semester begins Aug. 24.
Arizona State University said in a June press release it would offer three main class options for in-person learning when the fall semester begins Aug. 20.