FAYETTEVILLE — A decision on in-person classes this fall at the University of Arkansas likely is to come "around June 1," UA Chancellor Joe Steinmetz told faculty members Thursday.
"I would say that decision would probably be made around June 1," Steinmetz told faculty in a videoconference talk. "I think we'd have to know by then what the prospect actually looks like for the fall."
But Steinmetz added that "if it looks like we still don't have enough information, I would try to push that a little bit later."
UA suspended in-person classes March 12, a day after state officials announced the first presumptive covid-19 case in Arkansas. The university had said online-only classes will continue through Aug. 3.
Fall semester classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 24.
The status of in-person classes on university campuses are likely to play a role in whether the 2020 college football season can be played on schedule. During a teleconference earlier this week, college football commissioners told Vice President Mike Pence that campuses will need to be reopened before the season can begin.
Arkansas' season is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 with a home game against Nevada.
"What we need to know from medical professionals across our communities - both regional communities and state communities and national communities - when is it safe for us to kind of pull back from this social distancing and bring students back to campus?" UA Athletics Director Hunter Yurachek said Thursday during a radio interview on Halftime with Phil Elson. That "would trigger bringing our student-athletes back to campus to begin training and playing."
Matt Jones contributed