University of Puget Sound announces remote learning, reduction in tuition
The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma announced Wednesday that there would be no in-person instruction occurring on its campus for the upcoming academic semester.
Remote classes are now set to begin Aug. 31.
In a statement posted on its website, the university said it has “made the difficult decision that we will not be able to resume in-person instruction in Fall 2020 as planned.”
In an email to students, the university cited rising case counts in Pierce County as the justification for the decision.
The statement did allow for students to access “limited campus housing with priority given to students who experience housing or food insecurity; are unable to effectively participate in remote learning from their homes, even with accommodations; or have a compelling academic or cocurricular reason to be on campus, such as students who need access to specialized facilities, equipment, or other resources for their academic work.”
The university also noted that “full-time Fall 2020 undergraduate tuition will be reduced to the amount charged in Fall 2019 (a reduction of $1,025) with a comparable reduction for graduate students.”
Senior Lauren VonEschen was concerned about the cost of tuition, which prompted VonEschen to launch a petition calling for a reduction of tuition. At the time of publication, it’s garnered over 1,500 signatures.
“I did not state in the petition how much I want the University to lower tuition,” VonEschen said in response to questions from The News Tribune. “The University should take in information and listen to students and families in order to adjust tuition in a way that directly matches and reflects the level of education we will be receiving this fall in comparison to what we have received in previous years.”
The university first announced in late March that two members of the campus community had tested positive for COVID-19.
On June 24, the university was notified that five students living off campus tested positive.
On June 26, the university was notified that three additional students tested positive, all of whom “have had direct contact with certain campus members” and two of whom live in student housing on campus.
UPS is not alone in facing down the difficult decision of how best to approach teaching.
Pacific Lutheran University declined to comment for this story, though it has allowed for students to opt in to remote learning.
University of Washington Tacoma has said it will be majority online starting Sept. 30.
The Tacoma Community College similarly plans to have the “majority of instruction” online with “some on-campus instruction” starting Sept. 21.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 8:43 AM.
