North Greenville University announced Thursday it will open its Tigerville and Greer campuses for in-person instruction beginning on Aug. 20. “We are excited to welcome students back to campus for the fall semester,” NGU President Gene C. Fant Jr. said. “We will overcome these challenging days together as the North Greenville family. Every necessary precaution will be put in place to ensure the safest educational experience is available to the students we serve.” The university’s preparations for the fall semester include two primary focuses: wellness and enhancements to the student experience. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, a new wellness center has been launched, which will include an on-campus health clinic staffed professionally and enhanced mental health services through the university’s Office of Counseling Services. Throughout the summer, deep cleaning of all facilities will be performed by the Budd Group, a national leader in sanitization and janitorial services, along with the university’s Campus Enhancement Services. The school also started a new initiative called NGUcares. This program assigns each NGU student to a personal NGUcares partner, who will stay in touch with the student throughout the summer and into the start of the fall academic term.To protect students, faculty, and staff, NGU will continue with its health and safety protocols, including increased sanitization, appropriate student density in classrooms and the dining hall, flexible study options, and healthcare support provided in partnership with the medical community. University officials continue to monitor local, state, and federal guidelines carefully and will update the NGU community as additional information becomes available.“Throughout the upcoming summer and academic year, University officials will continue to exercise diligence and responsiveness in determining what steps they need to take to protect all students, faculty, and staff, especially high-risk populations,” Fant said. “We will have the ability to put unique precautions in place.” For the first time in more than a decade, NGU will not host national summer camps sponsored by Lifeway’s Fuge program, which has created an opportunity for widespread facilities improvements that will directly enhance residential student experiences. NGU is known for its commitment to cultivating authentic, transformational relationships within its community, and these changes will underscore this commitment. Several dorms will be refurbished, both in rooms and lounges, a number of classrooms will receive significant upgrades in technology and furnishings, and the university’s wireless network services will be upgraded substantially. The university will complete renovations to historic Neves Academic Hall, transforming it into a student-focused service center. This remodeled space will house the Student Services Department, which includes Academic Records, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and NGUcentral in one central location. The Ward Campus Bookstore and Tigerville General Store will also be redesigned for superior experiences, including new gathering spaces. “Our desire as a university is to be a resource and encouragement to students throughout their time at NGU,” Fant said. “We hope these improvements will be a tangible example of our commitment to serving our students well. The spring disruption of in-person classes has underscored how much our university values its relationships, and all of these improvements are rooted in our desire to equip transformational leaders for church and society.”For more information about NGU and its nationally recognized academic programs, visit NGU.edu.