Tech to return to ‘normal’ for fall quarter

Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice on Thursday announced plans for the university to return to normal class and campus operations in the fall 2021 quarter.

In an email to faculty, staff and students, Guice said Tech will return to in-person instruction for a “vast majority” of classes this fall.

“The strides our country has made — along with increasing availability and acceptance of vaccines — will allow us to have a fall quarter that is as close to normal as is possible with health guidelines,” he said.

The announcement comes just a few days after the one-year anniversary of Tech’s transition to all-online class formats for the spring and summer quarters of 2020 at the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Students returned to campus in the fall, but many courses have remained virtual or hybrid to comply with current COVID-19 safety measures.

“We will still offer online or hyflex instruction when needed to meet state-mandated occupancy requirements, but only when we have not been able to achieve a face-to-face option,” Guice said.

The summer 2021 quarter will offer a mix of class types to align with health and safety mandates before things open up more fully in the fall.

Mask and distancing guidelines are still in effect on campus and will continue as long as deemed necessary.