#CUNY planning for most classes to be online this fall amid coronavirus concerns

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CUNY Graduate Center
Kevin C Downs for New York Post

The City University of New York is preparing to keep providing most classes online for the fall semester amid ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.

The CUNY Board of Trustees of Trustees approved a resolution last week alerting 275,000-degree seeking students and 6,700 professors at its 25 colleges and professional schools that there’s a strong likelihood that most classes will be virtual rather than in-person at their campus when classes resume in September.

“The University, through this resolution, is recognizing that by reducing the density of individuals on the University campuses and offering the option of classes and support services in a primarily online and remote format, the University can better ensure the continued health, safety and welfare of its students faculty and staff,” the statement said.

The plan would also “preserve the availability of its physical spaces for those academic programs and support services that require them,” the resolution said.

For example, lab courses that require hands-on activity would be among courses that could be offered in person.

The resolution said CUNY officials would prefer more in-person classes and noted that New York has made great strides in reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths.

But, it added, “Pending the introduction of effective long-term health solutions, the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency continues to be a concern in the State of New York and elsewhere throughout the United States, and in fact is showing recent signs of worsening as the number of new cases reported daily has reached record-setting levels.”

“The COVID-19 virus continues to pose a threat to the continuity of business and education …. The University’s highest priority in planning for the Fall 2020 semester is to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff while creating the conditions for our students to make progress in their academic programs.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order back in March requiring all schools — including CUNY and SUNY institutions — to switch to virtual classes to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Students and parents at some colleges have complained the online classes are inferior to in-person instruction and have demanded tuition refunds.