By Elissa Nadworny for NPR
The excitement in the air at the University of Georgia is palpable, with move-in days for the fall semester finally here. There are packed cars, overstuffed suitcases, a white shag rug, an old grey futon and a potted succulent named Susie.
But nestled between the familiar college accessories were stark reminders of the coronavirus pandemic: Boxes of cleaning supplies. Masks. Hand sanitizer.
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of college students are making their way to campus to begin the fall semester. At the University of Georgia in Athens about 8,000 students are moving into the dorms this week, beginning an unusual on-campus experience, with a global pandemic as the backdrop.
The state of Georgia has one of the highest rates of coronavirus per capita in the U.S. and unlike other colleges that have transitioned to virtual learning, this flagship university is determined to host students on campus and have many of its classes in person. Nationwide, about 20% of four-year schools are offering classes either partially or fully in person, with another 15% doing a hybrid approach, according to data from the College Crisis Initiative. Those numbers, gathered Wednesday, are continuing to change, as many institutions reverse course.
“I’m just glad to be here,” one UGA student said to a new friend on her way up to their dorms.
Elissa Nadworny/NPR
“We’ve been waiting all summer,” said a mom holding a body pillow in the parking lot.
“It’s going to be an interesting year,” said another student as he passed the university’smass COVID-19 testing site.
All these interactions were a bit muffled because of the school’s mandatory mask policy: Unless you’re eating or in your dorm, you must wear one. Walking around campus, it’s rare to see someone without one — even if at times it’s simply hanging from one ear or around the chin. Read more from NPR.
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