(WXYZ) — Students at Central Michigan University are starting their classes for the fall semester Monday.
Due to the pandemic, students are starting two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.
The university president says only 2 percent of classes require some face-to-face instruction, so virtual learning is increasingly popular.
Michael Armistead, a junior studying broadcasting at CMU, said the policies put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus are great in theory, including starting the school year two weeks earlier to end the fall semester by Thanksgiving.
However, Armistead says he has some concerns, particularly with off-campus behavior, like parties.
"Young people seem to have this perceived invincibility where they go out, they see the pandemic is going on, and they think it doesn't affect them because they're young," Armistead said.
President Robert Davies says that if necessary, the university will use the student code of conduct to enforce the policies.
In addition to the need for student cooperation, Davies has implemented health precautions, including hundreds of sneeze guards in place, along with more than 350 hand sanitizing stations; class sizes are reduced by one-third and students have the option to attend classes virtually.
"I personally wrote letters to every single student who has come to Central Michigan University as well as their parents, enforcing the notion of social responsibility, and personal responsibility. It is up to all of us to work together to make sure that we're able to continue to be here face-to-face at Central Michigan University."
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