TCU plans to reopen campus this fall amid coronavirus, says budget cuts are needed
TCU is making plans to bring students back to campus later this year.
In an email sent Thursday afternoon, Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. told staff and faculty that the goal is to reopen campus in the fall, with a proposed start date of Aug. 24.
“As an institution of higher learning, we must preserve our academic environment, the intellectual advancement of our students, and all that the TCU experience promises,” stated the email, obtained by the Star-Telegram. “As we continue to develop our fall plans, we will abide by government and public health guidance because our responsibility to the TCU community is foundational.”
At the same time, the private university has been financially affected by the novel coronavirus, as have colleges across the country, and officials are working to reduce TCU’s 2021 operating budget by 20%, according to the email.
TCU in recent months sustained hits to its budget by moving classes online, canceling study abroad programs and refunding room and board costs to students who live on campus.
Now, as the world’s economy remains uncertain, there could be future financial hurdles for the college, ranging from a potential drop in enrollment to fewer or smaller endowments.
“Texas Christian University intends to safely return students to campus for the fall 2020 semester, and we remain cautiously optimistic about our fall enrollment,” according to a TCU statement released Thursday evening. “Under the direction of university leadership and the Board of Trustees, we are proactively managing costs to responsibly maintain our fiscal health.
“These measures will make the TCU experience more accessible to students, even in these challenging times. Our faculty and staff’s primary focus is supporting our students and families as we prepare for a return to campus in August.”
Colleges across the country received billions of dollars in federal stimulus funding to help them and students deal with the fallout from the novel coronavirus.
But at TCU, for instance, at least half of the $5.7 million earmarked for the university is to help students who are struggling financially.
Boschini wote in his email that he recently created a Fall 2020 Campus Readiness Task Force that is reviewing policies and processes that affect students, facilities, faculty, athletics and more. The task force is focusing “on a safe return to residential life and on-campus instruction.”
North Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Baylor and the University of Texas have said they plan to reopen campuses for the fall semester. The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth announced Wednesday that it plans on-campus instruction this fall.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:41 PM.
