Nonprofit Mississippi News Due to record-breaking COVID-19 numbers in Mississippi, some colleges have delayed or moved classes online. However, most colleges will begin the spring semester as scheduled. Mississippi University for Women has moved its semester start-date back to Tuesday, January 18 from Jan 6. Mississippi Valley State University and Jackson State University will begin classes online on Monday, January 10. JSU will offer online classes for two more weeks while MVSU will remain virtual for one week. In a letter to campus, Jerryl Briggs, President of MVSU wrote that moving classes online would give MVSU more time to improve safety measures in all buildings. “COVID-19 concerns, challenges and are not over yet. We must continue doing all we can to keep ourselves and our campus safe.” Students moving back to the dormitories will need to show proof of a negative PCR. MUW states that it will provide free rapid COVID testing on January 17, the day that residences halls open. Alcorn State University will open classes on Jan. 18, as planned. Brittany Davis Green, communications director at Delta State University, said that the administration plans to reevaluate protocols for all DSU students and staff “sometime next week.” Delta State is currently allowing student athletes to adhere to the less strict quarantine guidelines that were announced by the Centers for Disease Control in December. Officials at the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi stated that they are starting the semester exactly as planned without any changes due to the outbreak of the omicron. Mississippi State did not respond to Mississippi Today’s press request, but their website states that classes will begin on January 18. Glenn Boyce, University of Mississippi’s Chancellor, stated that classes will begin on January 18 as planned. He said, “At the exact same time, however we are fully aware the recent developments with regard to the pandemic.” “I will soon share additional guidance to our campus community about how we will work diligently in order to keep our community safe while maintaining our residential campus experience.” Loading… Refresh the page or try again.