OXFORD, Ohio — Miami University is welcoming back students to campus in Oxford, but new guidelines are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What You Need To Know

  • Students are returning to residence halls on Miami University’s campus

  • Students moving back to campus are required to take a COVID-19 screening

  • To reduce density on campus in residence halls, occupancy has been reduced to 60 percent of regular capacity

  • The university of the safety of faculty, staff and students is the top priority

Miles Fearn is an incoming-freshman at Miami University and part of his welcome week tasks is getting a mandatory COVID-19 test—something all students who are living on campus must do. 

“They’re going to test a lot of students every week,” Fearn said. “That random testing is gonna be good to help keep the virus under control. At least I hope so.” 
 
Miles said he’s excited to start his college career and thinks the increased protocols will help him stay safe. 
 
“I know for me, I will do my best maintain distance wear a mask, all that safety stuff.” 
 
And for his mother Carla Ferrario, she has her worries as any mom sending their kid off to college would. But she says she trusts the process.

“We’re nervous, but we think that it’s important for him to be on campus,” she said. “I think studying from home has been kind of a challenge.” 
 
A recent jump in cases pushed Miami’s total case count past 1,200, which is why the university is taking increased measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
 
University President Gregory Crawford said the decision to move students back on campus came after a lengthy discussion with public health experts, and the safety of faculty staff and students is the university’s top priority.
 
And to further reduce density on campus in residence halls, occupancy has been cut to 60 percent of regular capacity, creating single-occupancy rooms.

Fearn said that’s an added layer of reassurance. 
 
“Let’s say my roommate, let’s say if he got it, and if I was in the same room with him I would be in such close contact with him all the time, but this new room gives us a little bit of physical distancing,” he said. “It’s not like I’m never going to see him. But we won’t be sleeping in the same room, sharing the same stuff.” 
 
But while Miles is comfortable with the new setup, upperclassman Alexander Yudushkin has concerns.
 
“I mean, I hope the situation improves, but I don’t really see an end in sight. There was a spike recently, and who knows, it could happen again.” 
 
Complicating matters for Miami are off campus parties held over Labor Day weekend, despite residents testing positive for COVID-19. 
 
To enforce the new guidelines the university issued this warning in a statement:
 
“Any Miami University student who violates a quarantine or isolation order or hosts a large gathering that violates the City of Oxford mass gathering ordinance will face disciplinary action under our Code of Student Conduct. We take these matters most seriously, and students can face suspension or dismissal for these types of violations.”
  
Right now Miami plans to host half of its classes online and half in person when they begin next week. But Carla said in the end, it’s all up to the students.
 
“We are optimistic, but it is also the responsibility of these students to make sure that they stay safe,” Ferrario said.