Monmouth University Goes All Virtual After Thanksgiving Break

LONG BRANCH, NJ — College students: It's best that you just stay home after Thanksgiving break. That's the message from Monmouth University, which announced Monday it will move to all-online classes only after Thanksgiving, and will remain that way until the spring semester starts in January.

This is to reduce the chances of COVID spreading as students return from Thanksgiving. Large family gatherings at Thanksgiving are strongly discouraged this year, as New Jersey is officially in the second wave of COVID.

"We deliberately waited until early November to make a final decision on our post-Thanksgiving plans," said Monmouth U. president Patrick Leahy. "Residential students will be given the option to stay home after the break, thereby helping to prevent future spread of the virus among our campus."

After Thanksgiving, all classes will become online only for the remainder of the fall semester, including final exams.

However, if students choose to come back and live on campus, they will be allowed to.

"If you choose to leave university housing, you will receive prorated refunds or credits on unused room contracts, meal plans and parking fees," said Leahy. "If you are an on-campus residential student and choose to stay home after Thanksgiving, you will need to inform us of your decision by Friday, Nov. 13."

Also new this year due to disruption caused by COVID, Monmouth students can receive a pass/fail grade for each course, instead of a letter grade.