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Miami University to offer phased-in return-to-campus plan

Health and safety top priority during pandemic

Due to the changing dynamics of the COVID-19 virus in Ohio and throughout the United States, Miami University is now offering a variety of options to Oxford students for a phased-in approach to the start of the fall semester.

Classes begin as scheduled Aug 17 for all students, but will begin with all undergraduate classes on the Oxford campus being held online/remotely until at least Sept. 21. Undergraduate classes on Miami’s Regional campuses will also begin remotely on Aug 17.

“As a university, we must continue to be flexible and adaptable with the health and safety of our community as our first priority,” wrote President Greg Crawford in a letter to Oxford students.

“When we began planning last spring, we had hoped that the COVID-19 pandemic would be in significant decline before classes were scheduled to begin. Instead, cases are rising in many states,” he wrote. “With over 40% of our Oxford students coming from outside Ohio, we’ve been monitoring the situation closely.”

Miami is working with Butler county public health officials and following the guidance and directives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and Governor Mike DeWine. 

"Governor DeWine and his team have been wonderful partners through these turbulent times. I want to thank Governor DeWine for his leadership and continued support of higher education," said Crawford.

“We have heard from students and their families, faculty, and staff who are excited to return to campus and from those who have concerns about returning. This means offering our students several options for the fall semester,” Crawford wrote.

Following the recommended best practices for opening universities, Miami will sequence the return to campus in multiple phases.

“This will give us the opportunity to review lessons learned at each interval and adapt accordingly,” Crawford added.

“In the end, we hope, this will provide the best opportunity for a successful return to the Oxford campus later this fall,” Crawford said.

He added, "We expect students planning to live off-campus in Oxford will begin returning in advance of the August 17 start of classes. We encourage them to consider residing at home if circumstances permit or if they have significant health or family concerns."

Move-in for Oxford undergraduate students living in the residence halls will begin Sept. 14 in a phased-in manner.

Graduate students will begin on-campus classes on August 17, and research activities will continue as planned.

Students who elect to return this fall will be required to sign a health and safety pledge.

Students will also have the option to construct a fully remote semester, and newly admitted and transfer students to the Oxford campus may elect to postpone their enrollment for a semester or for a year.

Oxford undergraduate students and their families will choose from one of three options described in the letter to Oxford students.

More information about Miami University’s Healthy Together Plan for return-to-campus this fall can be found online.