The University of Wisconsin-Superior is planning to resume some on-campus classes in the fall semester, which will begin as originally scheduled Sept. 2, and students will be allowed to live in campus residence halls.
Many details regarding what the fall semester will look like at UWS are yet to be determined, including the capacity to which students will fill the residence halls and the number of classes that will be offered on campus versus online.
A recovery team at UWS is working on the plan to bring students and employees back to campus, Chancellor Renée Wachter said in a statement. Physical distancing requirements will determine how the campus can be utilized.
“Campus has been very quiet since classes were converted to remote learning in March,” Wachter said. “I know I’m not alone in looking forward to seeing our campus vibrant and active again. We are committed to doing all we can to keep campus safe for students, employees and guests of our small but mighty university.”
Other campuses in the UW System have also announced plans to welcome students back to campus fall semester and back into residence halls. UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls will begin fall classes Sept. 2 and UW-Stout will start Sept. 9.
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While the UW System is facing more than $207 million in estimated losses through the summer semester, UW-Superior's losses make up 1% of that figure, according to board of regents documents. UW-Superior's estimated net loss is just over $2 million due to revenue loss tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and additional expenses.
The Superior campus was allotted just over $1.6 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding. Half of those dollars must be directed toward students in the form of emergency financial aid grants.
