By Chloe Jones | Arizona Republic
Arizona State University announced Friday that students will end in-person classes early this semester and switch to a fully remote learning model after Thanksgiving break.
Students received the email from ASU Provost Mark Searle at 4:20 p.m. The email also said that final exams will bump up a week and be held on the last day of class, now starting on Nov. 30 instead of Dec. 7. Also, graduation ceremonies will be held online only.
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ASU announced Thursday that 1,580 students have tested positive for COVID-19 since Aug. 1 as have 30 staff and faculty members out of 57,629 tests given — a 2.8% positivity rate. Although ASU’s positivity rate has been rising, a positivity rate of 5% is considered a good benchmark that the spread is under control.
Jake Swenson, a 22-year-old graduate student in the business school, said finding out classes would be online after the Thanksgiving break Nov. 26 and 27 was disappointing, but it hit harder because he missed the Friday email and found out from the news.
