Virginia Tech President Tim Sands released information about the University's plans for reopening in a press release on Monday morning. The press release was accompanied by resources explaining things such as the academic calendar, health and wellness, models of instruction, and a limited section on athletics.
The fall semester will begin on August 24 and will conclude on December 16. However, following the model of many other schools, there will be no in-person classes after Thanksgiving Break. Dorms will be open, however they will only house approximately 9,100 students as opposed to the 10,400 housed during the 2019-20 academic year.
Virginia Tech is following the state of Virginia’s guidelines, which means as of now no large gatherings of over 50 people are allowed. Tech’s policy will continue to change as the state’s policy changes. That means that the status of crowds at athletic events is still unknown. Here is the short release on athletics…
“One of the most challenging aspects of life on campus during a pandemic is the management of large crowds at performances and athletic events. At the time of this writing, such events are not possible at the densities to which we are accustomed. As the summer progresses, we will have increasing clarity on the health precautions that will be necessary for occupying spaces such as Lane Stadium, Cassell Coliseum, Burruss Auditorium, and the facilities in the Moss Arts Center. As information is available, it will be shared through the Virginia Tech Daily Email, online on at vt.edu/ready, and other places as appropriate.
With respect to football, the NCAA and the ACC are evaluating return-to-play models. If practices cannot be conducted safely by mid-July, the start of the season could be delayed. Under the direction of the team physician, some of our student-athletes are returning to campus for voluntary training. Protocols to help lower the health risks for spectators are under development and are tentatively planned to be announced on or about July 1.”
In other words, it will require more time before we know how many fans will be allowed in Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum this season.
Here is a link to Virginia Tech’s full release and information page.