March 11, 2021-Missouri Western State University will return to in-person instruction for the fall 2021 semester.
“We are committed to providing an engaging and fulfilling in-person, on-campus experience for every student in the fall semester, always in a safe environment for our entire campus community,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western’s president.
The majority of classes will be able to return to nearly pre-COVID normalcy this fall. Eighty-five percent of classes will have in-person classroom learning. Seventy percent will be fully face-to-face, about 15 percent will be hybrid (primarily face-to-face with an online component) and only about 15 percent will be fully online.
“We have been able to provide this number of in-person classes while maintaining limited room capacities to allow for physical distancing,” President Kennedy said. All in-person and hybrid classes will be able to pivot to fully online if necessary in response to a changing public health environment.
In addition to offering in-person classes, Missouri Western is planning a return to traditional events that had been canceled or moved online during the past year, including Homecoming and Greek Life Recruitment. Many events are currently being planned while keeping the health and safety of the campus community in mind.
Missouri Western is still encouraging everyone to continue following COVID-19 guidelines while on campus, including wearing masks in public spaces, maintaining six feet of distance from others, frequently washing hands and staying home when not feeling well. Students and employees are also encouraged to register through Missouri’s Vaccine Navigator to be notified when they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.