INSTITUTE, WV (WOAY) – West Virginia State University (WVSU) is canceling all in-person Homecoming activities this year, with the exception of the Sept. 26 football game, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Homecoming activities were scheduled for Sept. 24-26 and traditionally would have included class reunions, a parade and a variety of other activities on the school’s Institute campus.
“Homecoming annually draws thousands of alumni from across the country back to campus, but in light of the ongoing health and safety concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel it this year,” said WVSU Interim President Dr. R. Charles Byers. “A lot of thoughtful consideration went into this decision. Ultimately, we felt it would be in the best interests of protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, as well as of those who would travel to Institute, to cancel Homecoming this year.”
The Sept. 26 football game against Notre Dame College is still scheduled to take place with reduced fan attendance in order to maintain social distancing. The WVSU Department of Athletics will release additional information at a later date.
WVSU is planning for face-to-face classes for the fall 2020 semester utilizing a modified academic calendar that was announced earlier this month. The fall semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 10, and will conclude on Friday, Nov. 20, prior to the University’s Thanksgiving Break. Fall commencement is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21.
Additional safety precautions that will be in place for the fall semester will be announced soon. In addition, a schedule for staff and faculty to return to campus will be released at a later date. Campus offices have been operated remotely since March.
