Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and leaders in the state public colleges and university system met at Central Connecticut State University for the first day of classes on Wednesday.
Western Connecticut State University did not begin classes on schedule due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury. Still, Lamont said coordination between institutions made it possible to test and quarantine out-of-state students, and limit socializing.
“Sorry guys, nothing is 100% safe," Lamont said. "I wish I could tell you we are going to wait until we’re 100%, your kids would never go back to school. But we’re doing everything we can to make it as safe as humanly possible, and if the metrics change and we find out it’s not working, just like at Western, we know how to change course."
Lamont said campus reopening plans depend on students avoiding partying. Several students got evicted from UCONN dorms after throwing a party without masks or social distancing.
The president of Connecticut’s public colleges and universities system, Mark Ojakian, challenged students to follow social distancing rules on the first day of classes on Wednesday. He said the system is taking precautions to make on-campus living safe, but acknowledged possible budget problems ahead.
“As we saw when we had to pivot immediately over spring break and close our residence halls, we had to refund at least $25 million dollars and that has a profound financial impact on the bottom line,” Ojakian said.
Ojakian said thanks to a marketing plan, enrollment is within his budget projections.