Wilmington University continues online learning for fall

Wilmington University will offer online classes only for its fall semester as uncertainty about COVID-19 continues.

No one knows if COVID-19 will continue to spread at its current pace, the university stated on its website, and there is growing concern that numbers will increase or possibly result in a second wave. Due to these uncertainties and the need to keep the community safe, officials said, courses will remain online for the fall 2020 semester, and faculty, staff, and administrators will continue to provide personalized education for students.

For everyone’s protection, officials said, it is best to adhere to guidelines imposed by the State of Delaware and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The university will also postpone the commencement ceremony honoring its spring graduates that had been tentatively rescheduled for October. Wilmington University remains committed to recognizing these graduates and will communicate a new date when more information becomes available, officials said.

In July, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference announced that sports teams will be allowed to take part in team activities on campus during the fall, but fall championship sports will be moved to the winter and spring seasons. Intercollegiate competition is slated to begin in January, according to the CACC.

Men's and women's soccer will move to the spring season, slated to kick off in early March and conclude in late April with their championships. Men's golf and women's tennis will also move to spring.

All regularly scheduled spring sports championships will be held as planned, but both fall and spring semester plans are subject to change based on the latest COVID-19 developments.

Since March, when the World Health Organization deemed the new coronavirus a pandemic, Wilmington University has ensured its community’s safety. A Response Planning Committee was formed to continually monitor official reports from the state and CDC, and develop a pandemic preparation strategy. The university community’s well-being guided each decision, and student safety and success remained foremost, officials said.

Delaware entered Phase 2 of Economic Reopening on June 15, warning that the spread of COVID-19 was still a threat, and employees who had been working from home should continue doing so.