Chapman University Students Return To In-Person Classes Monday Despite Recent COVID-19 Outbreak
ORANGE (CBSLA) – For the first time in seven months, undergraduate students at Chapman University were allowed to return to campus for in-person classes Monday, this just days after a coronavirus outbreak among the school community.
Earlier this month, the school announced that it would begin in-person instruction Monday. However, the school said that only 35% of its undergraduate population had opted in for in-person instruction.
Students are not required to return to campus. Those who do so will have to undergo testing for COVID-19 at least one a month.
Under state guidelines, classes can only be at 25% of a classroom's fire code capacity.
While remote learning is offered for every class, many freshman were excited to get on campus and experience university life.
"One of the most challenging things about online learning is trying to stay motivated you just have to open a computer," said student Chase Little. "It's really easy as well to blow it off but you can't blow off walking to class."
"I thought it was cool," said Brandon Menzel, another freshman. "There were so many fewer people in class. There was more one on one attention. You could get the most out of a lesson."
Last week, Chapman was hit with a coronavirus outbreak which infected at least 37 students. Of those, 16 lived in dormitories and 20 were in off-campus housing. All are now in quarantine.
Officials say it appears the infections were caused by community spread and not a single gathering or event.
