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NC Colleges And Universities Weigh Pandemic Costs, Revenue Losses

The Old Well on campus at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Universities across the state are still tallying the cost of responding to the pandemic. Those costs also include millions of dollars spent to reopen campuses that are now reverting back to online classes for undergraduate students.

North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are among a number of colleges sending students home after COVID-19 clusters were confirmed on campus.

According to the News and Observer, the coronavirus pandemic is expected to cost the UNC System at least $220 million in lost revenue this semester.

A spokesperson with UNC-Chapel Hill says the university has spent more than $700,000 to help reopen the campus for in-person instruction and remote learning. That included things like public health signage, PPE, and hiring extra janitorial and house cleaning services.

N.C. State University has spent more than $1.9 million since July 1 for reopening preparations.

What the impact of switching to remote learning will be on enrollment for the semester is still a big question mark, but more information is expected after final headcounts are conducted.

Universities and the UNC System will seek reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses from state and federal governments.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

 

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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