WSU’s COVID-19 refit costly

WINONA, Minn. –The coronavirus pandemic has cost Winona State millions of dollars, university President Scott Olson told the City Council. Since March, Olson said the university has spent $1 million on cleaning supplies, refunded $4.2 million to students, put $4 million into reconfiguring dorms into single-student occupancy rooms, and experienced $1.7 million in revenue loss. “Being safe is very expensive, but we think in the long run those are good investments for safety now and reputation later,” Olson said. What about fall semester? Olson said the university plans to hold half of its courses online, with another 25% in traditional classrooms and labs, and with and another 25% being a blend of online and in-person. As a contingency, the university could go entirely online, he said.