WORCESTER, Mass. - Over the last week, 225 Assumption University students tested positive for coronavirus. It's more than 10% of the student population. 

The results have forced Assumption to adopt a remote model to start the first week of the spring semester.

"A lot of students traveled over the break. We're certainly seeing as travel happens, people are coming back,” vice president of student affairs, Deborah Cady Melzer said. “I'm just very grateful of the fact that people are not incredibly ill."

Assumption is the first institution to begin its semester in Worcester, The school started classes on Monday. Campus will be normal for the most part, but students will be tested twice a week moving forward.

"We're not in a shelter-in-place of any kind, so students are welcome to eat in the dining halls, our recreation center will open (Tuesday), programming is happening.In-person,” Cady Melzer said.

The College of the Holy Cross will begin its semester remotely for the first week. Students will then have the option to continue remote learning or go back to campus, with the expectation of having all students back by Feb. 4. 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is welcoming students back on campus if they test negative for COVID-19 twice, but will offer remote options for those who test positive.

Assumption is planning to return to hybrid, in-person classes on Thursday.

“By Thursday, all those students who uploaded positive tests last week should be able to be back here in-person,” Cady Melzer said. 

The return of college students comes at a time the city is experiencing some of its highest case numbers in the last two years. But last week, Worcester’s medical director, Dr. Michael Hirsh, shared some optimism, saying the rising number of cases could start to tail off at the end of the month.

Dr. Hirsh said, "There are encouraging signs from South Africa, from Israel, from London that omicron will recede almost as fast as it has risen now."