Amid COVID surge on campus, UNR to go fully remote after Thanksgiving break, cancel spring break

In a letter to students, faculty and other university personnel Friday, UNR President Brian Sandoval announced the university would move to fully virtual instruction following the upcoming fall break, a move that comes as the university has averaged nearly a hundred new COVID-19 cases per week and as the flu season rapidly approaches.

Sandoval’s letter also asks that students living on campus not return to their dorms barring “hardship or extenuating circumstances,” and that costs for room and board and parking would be prorated for students impacted by the closures.

Speaking with The Nevada Independent, Sandoval said a key component of making Friday’s decision came not only in addressing the spread of coronavirus on campus, but also in managing the wider spread throughout Reno and Washoe County.

“We're trying to make the best of a really difficult situation that keeps in mind the health and safety of the students, faculty, staff, and the people that come on this campus as well as the community,” Sandoval said. “I mean, the other concern was, one-in-nine cases in Washoe County could be traced to the university. So we have an obligation not only to our campus community, but to the community at large.”

Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/amid-covid-surge-on-campus-unr-to-go-fully-remote-after-thanksgiving-break-cancel-spring-break