• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Students move in Aug. 12 at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg. (Courtesy Mount St. Mary's)

Mount St. Mary’s staying open for fall semester

August 13, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

While the Catholic colleges of Baltimore are keeping their campuses largely closed for the fall semester, Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg will remain open and has already begun welcoming its largest and most diverse class of freshman students ever.

Many of the approximately 650 first-year students and 40 transfer students arrived on campus Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. 

This year’s freshman class represents an increase of more than 100 students from last year’s class. According to an Aug. 13 news release, 42 percent of the newcomers identify as students of color and 30 percent speak more than one language, including Spanish, Hindi, Twi, Sinhalese, Dutch and Urdu. The students hail from 440 high schools in 28 states and 10 countries, according to the release.

Loyola University Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland University, both in North Baltimore, announced last week that because of the coronavirus pandemic they will hold only remote learning for undergraduate classes and most graduate classes.

Unlike Loyola and Notre Dame, Mount St. Mary’s has a less-densely populated campus that school leaders believe will allow for a safe reopening. 

“Our rural location on 1,400 acres in Frederick County, which has a low positivity rate, supports our risk-reduction measures,” said Dr. Timothy Trainor, Mount St. Mary’s president. “Through the Mount Safe Initiative, more than 100 faculty, administrators and staff have devoted thousands of hours to devising and implementing an excellent plan to reopen campus.”

Trainor said the health and safety of the community and student success is at the forefront of the Mount plan. 

The university will practice social distancing measures, including hybrid classes in which a portion attend class in person and the rest join remotely. The plan reduces class sizes in half.

Self-quarantine will be employed when needed, informed by daily health surveys for students and employees as well as testing and contact tracing, the university said. Face masks will also be used. 

The Mount, which consulted with the Frederick County Health Department in developing the reopening plan, noted that every arriving student and seminarian is being tested for COVID-19 and random tests will be conducted through the semester. 

Not all students will be studying on campus, with the university reporting that approximately 12 percent of all undergraduate students have chosen to participate fully remotely from their homes for the fall semester.

Sophomore, junior and senior students will move in Aug.15-16.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Also see:

Loyola University Maryland to hold fall classes online

Notre Dame of Maryland University going online-only for most classes in fall

Under former West Point dean, Mount St. Mary’s reverses enrollment decline

Copyright © 2020 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

| Latest Local News |

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| Latest World News |

Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza

School club gives students chance to benefit veterans, fosters Gospel value of serving others

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack
  • Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served
  • Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says
  • Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza
  • School club gives students chance to benefit veterans, fosters Gospel value of serving others
  • Top Republican appears to walk back probe of Catholic entities amid charged committee hearing
  • Mahmoud v. Taylor: A Supreme Court victory for parents, freedom
  • Church leaders, faithful in procession to Detroit ICE office call for just immigration policies

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en