With the start of the Spring semester next week, and college enrollment nationwide already severely impacted, local universities are doing everything they can to remain in person. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Last fall, MSSU announced a decline in enrollment of 13.6% from the fall of 2020. Fewer students enrolling at four-year universities isn’t only an issue at Missouri Southern, in the fall of 2021 Pittsburg State had the highest decline of any four-year university in the state with 20%.

Because of the rise in cases that have caused local school districts to close, this week both PSU and MSSU announced mask requirements to all indoor gatherings for all students, staff, and visitors throughout the Spring semester, including basketball games. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. This Spring Southern will continue to utilize the Clear Campus app so that students, staff, and faculty can self-screen. The app isn’t available to universities in Kansas due to the state’s Open Records Act. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro