Certain UNCC students can now return to campus for in-person classes

CHARLOTTE — Groups of UNC Charlotte students can return to campus Thursday for in-person classes.

The university is dipping its toe in the water, slowly and carefully bringing students back to campus aid the coronavirus pandemic.

The school said it has a plan in place to monitor any possible outbreaks of COVID-19. UNCC is working with the Mecklenburg County Health Department to conduct its own testing and contact tracing on campus.

The university is only allowing select classes to resume in-person learning, such as science labs, performing arts and clinical programs. Freshman classes and courses for transfer students are also allowed, in order to help those students adjust to campus life.

“Charlotte’s done everything very safe. Everybody there is socially distanced and wearing masks,” said freshman Ethan Pongracz. “I feel confident that people will be following the rules, because there will be consequences if we don’t.”

UNCC has already implemented several other safety changes, including allowing just one person per room in dorms. Gatherings have been limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors and dining halls have been reduced to 50% capacity.

Students are also required to fill out a daily health screening. If they don’t, their credentials will be suspended starting next week.

“I don’t have any suitemates, so I’m kind of trying to make friends,” said another freshman, Emma Alcorn. “I thought I was going to have roommates until about two weeks ago, so I kind of expected to have people to hang out with and stuff like that. I feel like they’re handling it very well, and everybody’s gonna have masks and hand sanitizer and stuff like that.”

After the Thanksgiving break, all classes will resume online classes.

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Cox Media Group