In an email to students, President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. announced 2,500 additional dorm rooms would be available to students. The announcement comes one day after MSU announced a credit/no credit grading option for fall 2020 courses.

According to the Housing Assignments Office, all previous housing contracts for spring 2021 will be canceled, and a separate email will be sent to students soon on the criteria and request office for spring housing.

MSU will also be requiring students living on campus this spring to participate in the COVID-19 Early Detection Program, or Spartan Spit Test.

Undergraduate courses start on Jan. 11, 2021, and end April 23, 2021, joining most other Big Ten schools in canceling spring break. Alternatively, MSU will include three midweek days without classes.

This fall, MSU had about 40 in-person classes and is expecting 400 "in-person educational experiences" for students this spring. Most classes will still be offered only online.

"We will prioritize offering classes that can only be taught in person in order to keep our students on track for an on-time graduation," Stanley said in the announcement.

On-campus dining halls also reopen on Thursday, according to an announcement from Eat at State.

Graduate and professional programs have different schedules and faculty will receive information from their deans in the coming days.

"I appreciate your diligent efforts to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus by wearing your masks and practicing physical distancing," Stanley said. "Keep up the great work — we don’t want to lose the opportunities for which we have all worked so hard. Together, we will."

Meanwhile, Ingham County health officials are worried about in-person gatherings for football games as University of Michigan students were ordered to stay in place until Election Day, Nov. 3.