Clark University closing campus earlier than planned

Photo | SHNS Signs posted around the Clark University campus in Worcester urge the use of face masks, social distancing, and attention to symptoms.

Write a Comment

Clark University in Worcester is moving courses online earlier than planned out of concern for the spread of coronavirus on campus, its president and provost said Monday.

Clark has held classes on-campus during this fall but has planned to move courses online only from Thanksgiving break through the remainder of the semester.

But Monday posed new challenges, with seven positive tests — by far the most the school has had this fall — and 22 students placed in isolation out of precaution. President David Fithian and Provost Davis Baird announced classes would be canceled Monday through Wednesday, and be held online starting Thursday.

"While this is not an emergency situation, it is serious," Fithian said. "Our highest priority remains maintaining the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and finishing the semester strong."

Clark has reported 25 positive tests in the past 30 days through Monday. Nearly 80,000 tests have been conducted on campus this fall.

Clark was one of a majority of Central Massachusetts colleges to hold at least some courses on campus this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. Clark reduced dorm capacity to reduce crowding, and put plans in place for separating students while waiting test results or after having tested positive. It even spread out its move-in period at the start of the semester to last a whole week, avoiding having too many people in enclosed spaces at once.

Clark's abrupt move of classes online comes as virus cases have spiked in Worcester and well beyond. The city's weekly total of cases as of Nov. 12 was 518, its most in a week since May. The city has had nearly 8,000 cases to-date.

Clark's announcement on Monday comes three weeks after the university said it planned to hold classes on campus for the spring semester with a mix of in-person and online learning. A physical presence on campus would be optional for students, Clark said, and strict plans for testing and mask-wearing would remain in place.