HARRISONBURG, Va. -- James Madison University will transition to primarily online learning and students living in dorms will be asked to return home aftermore than 500 COVID-19 caseswere reported on campus.
"In-person classes will transition online no later than this coming Monday, Sept. 7. Additionally, residents will be asked to return home by Sept. 7 unless they seek an exemption to stay," the school said in a release.
Over the next month, university officials will "carefully monitor health trends and other developments," and will be in touch with the campus community by Sept. 25 regarding the possibility of returning to in-person instruction on or after October 5.
"We do not make this decision lightly, especially after all of the efforts on the part of so many people to make the campus environment safe for the return of in-person classes. But protecting the health of our Harrisonburg and Rockingham County community—including students, faculty, staff—remains our top priority."
