American University in Cairo’s New Semester Kicks Off with COVID-19 Firmly in Mind

The Coronavirus pandemic isn't over. We've said it before, and we'll keep saying it until it stops being true. Doesn't matter how many people in Sahel are running around the crowded beach with no masks on, doesn't matter if all the college-aged guests at your cousin's wedding think everyone is being too dramatic about it, none of that matters. At the end of the day, it's still a part of our lives right now, and you only have to look at Egypt's leading institutions like the American University in Cairo (AUC) to see how serious it all still is.

While people all over the world are still debating on how our students should end their summer vacations and if it's safe enough for them to return to their physical classrooms, AUC has put their foot down by implementing a hybrid system fit for the new normal that this decade has kicked us into. Starting from the Fall Semester on September 3rd, 93% of classes will continue to be held online, while 7% will be held in-person on the campus - and that's only if absolutely necessary. And even with such a seemingly tiny number allowed on what's honestly a huge campus - it's basically a small village -  we expect that standard COVID-19 restrictions like masks and social distancing will continue to be maintained.