SAN ANTONIO – With COVID-19 cases surging due to the highly contagious omicron variant, some San Antonio area colleges have announced changes in plans for the spring semester.
A few have delayed the start date while at least one is going virtual for a few weeks.
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Here are the latest plans for the local colleges and universities:
Alamo Colleges District
Alamo Colleges District has announced it will begin its spring semester remotely, with most scheduled classes meeting online between Jan. 18 and Jan. 29.
Alamo Colleges District says some programs will require in-person attendance. Indoor masking is strongly encouraged.
Students will be notified of their courses’ instructional method. Health screenings and temperature checks will continue into the spring semester.
COVID-20 PCR screenings are mandatory for employees and voluntary for students. Click here for hours and locations.
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The district strongly encourages vaccines and boosters for eligible faculty, staff and students.
The most up-to-date information about Alamo Colleges District’s plans amid the COVID-19 surge can be found by clicking here.
Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady of the Lake University will hold virtual/online classes only through at least Jan. 23.
Lab classes and practicum will vary based on each program.
Residence halls will open as scheduled on Jan. 8. All resident students must take a COVID-19 test prior to returning to the residence halls.
The library, computer labs, cafeteria, UWAC and student services offices will be open, but masking and social distancing are required.
The university will hold a vaccine clinic on the San Antonio campus on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sign up for the clinic using this online form.
St. Mary’s University
The president of St. Mary’s University sent a letter to the school community on Dec. 31 announcing that classes would be delayed until Jan. 24. The School of Law will begin classes on Jan. 10 as planned.
For now, all classes will be in-person unless previously designated as virtual. The letter indicated that students may be required assignments to make up for the loss of instruction time, but said class time would not have to be made up and spring break is still scheduled as planned.
Residence halls and dining services will be available for students starting Jan. 9. All residents will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test within two days of arriving on campus.
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Texas A&M University San Antonio hasn’t announced any changes to its Jan. 10 spring semester start.
Texas State University
Texas State University President Denise Trauth announced Monday that all classes will be held virtually for the first two weeks of the spring 2022 semester due to a COVID-19 surge.
All classes will be temporarily moved to online/remote learning beginning Jan. 18 through Jan 30.
Texas State campuses and offices will remain open and offer services in-person or virtually, Trauth said. Other campus facilities, such as the library, transportation services, dining, residence hall services, recreation centers, the student center, and the student health center will remain open.
Trinity University
Trinity University was the first local university to announce a delay in the start of spring classes.
The spring semester will start Jan. 31. Staff was asked to work remotely before that date.
Students and staff were instructed to get and report their booster shots by Jan. 12.
University of the Incarnate Word
University of the Incarnate Word announced the following changes to the start of the spring semester:
- Starting January 10 and for the following two weeks, lecture-based courses held on the Broadway campus and through the School of Professional Studies will move to online instruction through the Canvas learning platform. This change is exclusive to lecture courses. Lab, studio, clinical and performance-based courses, such as music, chorale and theatre will take place in-person, as planned.
- UIW’s health professions programs have already begun; students taking courses at health professions campuses will follow the direction of their respective deans for any changes in learning modalities.
- Campus housing remains open and student residents should continue to follow their move-in processes as planned.
- Athletics will continue to follow their practice and competition schedules. Coaches and staff will monitor and enforce existing risk mitigation factors for all student-athletes, such as wearing masks when not directly engaged in related activities, and weekly testing pursuant to NCAA regulations. Student-athletes are expected to notify Sports Medicine when feeling ill so alternative arrangements can be made.
UTSA
UTSA announced on Jan. 6 that most courses will be held online for the first three weeks of the spring semester which starts on Jan. 18.
Classes will meet virtually until Feb. 7 except most instructional laboratories, studios (such as art, music and other performance-based classes), ROTC, internships and other classes that require hands-on instruction which will remain in-person.
On-campus operations will remain limited, as previously announced.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements will continue for students, faculty and staff.
On-campus residence halls remain open for spring 2022. Spring move-in for new residents will take place January 7 for University Oaks residents and January 14 for all other residence halls.
UTSA Athletics continues to follow COVID-19 protocols recommended by the NCAA and Conference USA. At this time, attendance at athletic events will be limited to 50% capacity.