EAST LANSING, Mich. — In a tweet, the university asked all students who planned to live on campus to stay home and join the remote classes.
Effective immediately, we are asking undergraduate students who planned to live in our residence halls this fall to stay home and continue their education with MSU remotely. https://t.co/vMDZAcy5fc
— MSU (@michiganstateu) August 18, 2020
The school followed up the initial tweet saying students should stay in their home communities "...if that is a safer place for you". They promise students will have access to support like mental health services, IT, financial aid, and other student services.
"As president of Michigan State University, it is my ultimate responsibility to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff." President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr. M.D. announced, citing the state of the virus in the U.S. and the difficulties K-12 schools are having keeping it at bay as the cause of the decision.
President Stanley explained the university does not believe widespread transmission of the virus can be prevented if the large undergraduate population returns to campus.
Graduate programs, Human Medicine, Nursing, Law, Osteopathic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine will still be allowed on campus. President Stanely promised details on how those programs will operate are being released soon. Housing refunds are available for students who already paid for the fall semester and they will continue to house a small number of students who cannot go home.
