The University of Pittsburgh is asking its 34,000 students to delay traveling back to Pitt’s campuses at least until the final week of January, given uncertainty about rising COVID-19 cases. Still, the first day of spring classes remains Jan. 19.
The updated travel guidance applies to students who will take classes on the main Oakland campus and regional ones in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville. University leaders have said the school’s Flex@Pitt delivery system allows students and faculty to shift reliance between remote and in-person classes as infection risks from the pandemic rise and fall.
“To aid in planning, Pitt will provide notice at least two weeks before we advise that you travel to our campuses,” said a statement issued Friday night by the university’s medical response office. “Accordingly, the very earliest we will advise that you travel is sometime in the final week of January, and all Pitt students — whether or not you live in University housing — should not travel to the area prior to this time.”
Pitt’s COVID-19 dashboard, which updates case totals every few days, has shown relatively low infection rates on the university’s campuses, which are largely empty for the holidays.
However, leaders there and at other colleges and universities have been monitoring both daily infection and hospitalization numbers in the general population beyond campuses and warnings from state officials that coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and even deaths could peak this month and next in Pennsylvania.
In December, Pitt officials said it was too soon to provide specific travel guidance for spring but planned to do so by early January.
Several other campuses have modified spring plans in recent days, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania. It announced Tuesday that it would delay in-person classes by three weeks until Feb. 8.
Penn State trustees have approved a price reduction of nearly $1,000 in the room and board rates to reflect that school’s decision to move back in-person classes by about four weeks to Feb. 15.
Pitt has said it expects to modify its residence charges based on when students do arrive.
“We had not yet set a move-in date for students living in university housing,” Pitt spokesman Kevin Zwick said. “On Dec. 10, 2020, we told students living in the residence halls that they would receive a proration adjustment for spring housing and dining based on spring arrival.”
Pitt officials said that under the current planning, “In-person instruction is available — when appropriate — for individuals already living near campus, as long as your behavior is consistent with the University’s health rules applicable under the relevant operational posture.”
University officials said they would provide additional information next week, including “pre- and post-travel restrictions, recommended arrival dates, COVID-19 testing requirements and shelter-in-place guidance for all students.”
The statement said that when residence halls do reopen on all campuses, residents on the Pittsburgh campus should expect a phased arrival plan similar to the fall term. The Jan. 19 start of classes applies to all five Pitt locations.
Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1977.
First Published: January 9, 2021, 2:15 a.m.
