Some Approaches to Fall 2020 for Higher Education

Some institutions have announced plans or considerations for how the Fall 2020 semester will unfold, as reflected in the news and on social media. Other experts have weighed in about how campus might approach a return to face-to-face instruction in a safe manner. Here are some examples:

Inside Higher Education reports that the University of Kentucky hopes to avoid laying off employees in the wake of COVID-19. "Instead, the university is planning to weather its estimated $70 million revenue shortfall through a hiring freeze, changes to employee retirement fund contributions and by delaying an expansion of its family leave policy. Additional furloughs are also still on the table, though none are planned at the moment."

Michigan State University announced yesterday that on-campus classes will resume in the fall, according to the Detroit News. Shortly thereafter, social media reports surfaced that the University of Michigan will also likely resume face-to-face classes this fall, demonstrating yet again the power of mimetic isomorphism (see DiMaggio & Powell, 1983).

Inside Higher Education reports on what socially distant teaching might look like if colleges resume face-to-face classes in Fall 2020.

And my colleague, Dr. Alan Singer, shares some guidelines about how colleges and schools can take precautions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in face-to-face educational settings.