In-person, hybrid classes offered at Columbia for remainder of semester | Fact check

Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY
·2 min read

The claim: Columbia University canceled all in-person classes until end of semester

An April 23 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows a statue overlooking a large crowd of people holding signs.

"Parents, demand refunds: Outrage as Columbia president cancels all in-person classes until end of the semester after losing grip of anti-Israel mob," reads text above the picture.

The post garnered more than 6,000 likes in two days. Other versions of the claim were shared on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X, formerly Twitter.

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Our rating: False

This is a misrepresentation of the school's updated class guidelines. The university president announced that all classes would be held remotely on April 22 because of protests, but most classes were subsequently switched to hybrid or in-person for the remainder of the semester.

In-person, hybrid classes still offered at Columbia

The large-scale anti-war protests at Columbia University garnered national attention as students gathered within campus encampments to demand the school sever all financial ties with Israel and Israeli companies. The New York Police Department arrested more than 100 student protesters on April 18, including U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik released a statement on April 22 saying all classes would be held remotely that day "to deescalate the rancor."

This decision to cancel all in-person classes was temporary, however.

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The school published new guidelines the same day regarding the rest of the semester, in which it said all classes on the school's Morningside campus would become hybrid (meaning students can attend in person or remotely) except for art classes and "practice-based programs." Classes at the school's medical center and Manhattanville campus would continue operating in-person but would offer accommodations based on religious reasons or disabilities.

The guidelines specify that faculty on the Morningside campus who don't have the capability to host hybrid options should hold their classes remotely if requested or offer other accommodations.

This information was reiterated in an article published by the school's newspaper, the Columbia Spectator.

The new setup will only be in effect for five school days until the last day of classes on April 29.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

PolitiFact also debunked the claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In-person, hybrid classes still offered at Columbia | Fact check