In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Fort Hays State University has decided to convert its traditional, in-person fall commencement ceremony to a series of smaller, college-specific virtual ceremonies. On December 11, 2020, FHSU will host five individual commencement ceremonies for 2020 graduates from each college. The university’s spring 2020 commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for May of this year, was canceled due to the pandemic. This will be an opportunity for spring and summer graduates to participate in commencement.

Rooks County schools have had a decrease in COVID-19 activity this week.  While we have some students who are quarantined at home, we have no known transmission of COVID in our schools. Our decision is based on a continued low level of absenteeism in the schools (only 1.6% above baseline from the 2019-2020 school year), a declining positive testing rate in the county (10.7% over the last two weeks) and a decreasing incidence rate in Rooks County over the last two weeks.

Rooks County continues to have significant COVID-19 activity, including new positives and deaths since our last update. While we have some students who are quarantined at home, we have no known transmission of COVID in our schools.

We plan to continue in-person learning for the week of October 12-16, 2020 and will monitor the data over the coming week closely. If there is any adjustment required to the learning setting due to concerns in the schools, we will update your family quickly following a decision.