YSU Plans Return to ‘Near Normal’ for Fall Semester

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University expects to return to “near normal” operations for the fall semester of 2021 that will include more face-to-face classes, student activities on campus and more students in residence halls.

“As treatments improve, protocols are more closely followed and vaccine distribution expands, we are hopeful that, come August and the start of fall semester 2021, YSU will be at a new stage of our COVID-19 pandemic response,” YSU President Jim Tressel said Thursday in an email message to students and employees.  

“That said, our goal is to return to near-normal operations this coming fall here at Youngstown State University,” he said.

Spring commencement, scheduled for May 8 at Stambaugh Stadium, will be conducted in-person per the updated COVID-19 guidelines announced last week by Gov. Mike DeWine, Tressel said.

“Safety is our top priority,” Tressel said. “Protocols such as face coverings and social distancing will remain in place. We are looking forward to gathering together to recognize the tremendous work of our graduates. More details to come.”

However, plans for the fall semester and commencement still remain tentative, Tressel emphasized. 

“You’ve all faced great, unprecedented challenges; your perseverance through it all has been remarkable,” Tressel added. “And now it finally feels like there may be reason for optimism. If the availability of vaccines continues to expand, and if the disease does not take any more crazy turns, the opportunity to approach a more normal way of ‘doing college’ could be in our grasp again here at YSU.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.