LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville's Student Government Association (SGA) announced it no longer supports the university's return to in-person classes after releasing a letter the group wrote to university administration last week. UofL's return plan includes a hybrid approach of both online and in-person classes.

In the letter, SGA leaders discussed concerns they have regarding UofL's reopening plan and urged the university to reevaluate.

"In the early planning stages, our committees planned in the hopes that the COVID-19 situation would improve by August; however, it is clear that the pandemic has only worsened," read the letter from SGA. "With this in mind, it is essential to reevaluate our original plan with student, faculty, and staff safety as the main priority."

Some of the concerns listed in the letter include contact tracing and testing throughout the semester, handling positive cases in residence halls, and regulating parties on campus. The letter also discusses coronavirus's disparate impact on people of color and other minority groups. 

"We must protect these vulnerable populations by considering disparate impacts in a more meaningful way, and implement a more transparent plan to keep all of our students safe," read the letter. 

University administrators, including Provost Beth Boehm, responded to the SGA's letter with their own, saying campus leadership meets every day to reevaluate all decisions.

"The plan is flexible, but we feel at this time it is the strongest, most effective plan for serving the educational and social needs of our diverse campus," stated the letter from the university. 

In the university's response, it stressed that students have the option of taking online classes or a fully online schedule. Some schools and faculty offering hybrid courses are also allowing students to participate fully online. Despite offering online classes, the university says it still has students who wish to return to class in-person. 

The letter also addressed UofL's testing and tracing program, saying the university urges everyone to receive a test, but guidelines from the CDC say mandatory testing is not advisable. The letter mentioned other steps the university is taking, such as disinfection efforts, classroom adjustments, and quarantine plans. 

UofL released its "Pivot to Fall" plan in June, announcing the university would adopt a hybrid approach with classes both online and in-person. UofL's first day of classes will be Aug. 17.