WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem Academy and College announced Tuesday it’s decided to switch to online classes for the fall 2020 semester.
Salem College said after thoughtful consideration of many factors, and with the health and safety of students, and faculty, it decided not to offer residential education for fall 2020.
“Although we were fully prepared to offer in-person learning on Salem’s campus, the fluid and uncertain situation always meant we might need to shift direction,” said Salem Academy and College interim president Susan Henking.
Henking said colleges such as Bennett College in Greensboro, Queens University and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, Rhodes College in Memphis, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. are among the growing number of schools that have announced online classes for the fall semester.
“Salem’s administration considered a number of scenarios, but, in the end, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our Salem community,” said chair of Salem’s Board of Trustees Dara Folan.
The college said the decision to move to fully remote learning was made because of heightened concerns about the risks of exposure of the coronavirus.
“The physical and mental health of our students, faculty and staff is the most important thing to us,” said Salem Academy’s acting head of school Kris Sorrells.
Henking said Salem’s leadership and board of trustees will continue to closely monitor the pandemic’s trends before deciding about the spring semester.
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