NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — In an email sent to students, faculty and staff, Belmont University President Dr. Robert Fisher has announced the university intends to return to in-person classes for the Fall 2020 semester.
The Fall 2020 semester is scheduled to begin August 19.
"Please know that we do not take this decision lightly," Fisher said in the email. "Like all of you, we have been struggling to understand the uncontrollable, unpredictable and serious nature of this virus."
Belmont has had six teams working to protect the health and safety of the university community from COVID-19. Efforts of these teams include designing solutions for all of the factors that go into the decision to reopen the campus.
"Our leadership has sought the consultation of top medical officials from some of the world's leading health care companies and research hospitals. We have been agonizingly thoughtful about what it will take for us to return to on-campus living and learning."
Fisher says it is the top priority to keep everyone who is a part of Belmont's 10,000-person community safe.
"If at any point conditions change dramatically for the worse, we will not hesitate to change our course."
Belmont will share plans and expectations for the fall in the coming weeks.
