Franklin Pierce students are back on campus

After a week of remote classes to start the spring semester, Franklin Pierce University switched over to in-person Wednesday, following a plan laid out prior to the semester’s start in an effort to keep transmission low.

The decision to stick with remote classes for a week was made in the midst of high caseloads due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to Director of Communications Kathryn Grosso Gann.

Grosso Gann said that the switch was made possible by the school’s requirement that students were only allowed to return to campus last week if they provided proof of a negative test. She also credited the university’s vaccine requirement that has been place since the summer, as the campus community has a vaccination rate of over 96%. As of Monday, the university reported that there were two active COVID-19 cases on campus.

The switch between remote and in-person has gone smoothly, according to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Catherine Paden.

“Classes launched online last week without disruption thanks to the quick work of our faculty,” she said.

Students also adapted well to the change, according to Dean of Student Affairs Andrew Pollom, but they were excited to return to a more-traditional model.

“Students are looking forward to re-engaging with their professors face-to-face in the classroom,” he said.

Other mitigation strategies remain in place until at least Jan. 30, including mandated masking in all classrooms and public settings, a suspension of social gatherings and overnight guest registration and grab-and-go only campus dining options.

These protocols are subject to change or extension, as is the potential to switch back to remote should the situation call for it, according to Grosso Gann.

“The university continues to monitor state and local infection and transmission rates as we evaluate any potential changes to operations and protocols that will be in the best interest of the health and safety of our students,” she said.