The University of California, Berkeley School of Law will remain fully online for the fall semester.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky informed students by email Friday of the decision, which he wrote was made with "great reflection and study." That makes Berkeley the second law school to unveil plans to stay remote amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Harvard Law School made a similar announcement June 3. At that time, Berkeley was aiming to offer at least some in-person instruction though a hybrid model.

"Our top priority is protecting the health of our students, staff, and faculty," Chemerinsky wrote in the June 26 announcement that the school will be fully online next semester. "At the same time, we want to do what is best educationally for our students."

Chemerinsky acknowledged that many students lobbied for a return to campus instruction. The school evaluated numerous ways to try to offer at least some in-person classes in the fall, but ultimately the constraints posed by the coronavirus and university's policies were too much to overcome. The campus policy allows for no more than 25 students in a classroom, and they must be six feet apart. Even small classes would have to meet in the school's two large classrooms to meet the social distancing requirements, and faculty, staff and students would have to wear masks both inside out outside, Chemerinsky wrote. Even the law school's ventilation system is cause for concern, he added.

Berkeley also examined whether it could provide some in-person instruction for first-year students before concluding that it is not feasible. Among the issues is that campus policy allows for only one person at a time to be in a restroom, Chemerinsky noted. Central university administrators also told the law school that its café could not reopen and that students could not use lockers, water fountains, or vending machines. Students arriving from outside the area would have to be tested for COVID-19 and stay in a two-week quarantine and the law school would not be able to hold any events on campus.

"And this only begins to summarize some of the obstacles to in-person classes," Chemerinsky wrote. "I am convinced we can provide an excellent education via remote learning this semester and frankly a better education than we can through a limited number of in-person classes taught in a hybrid fashion. I also believe it is the safest course for the health of our faculty, staff, and students."

The school has established a technology fund to assist students with the purchase of mobile hot spots and other Internet connectivity aids, and will return to its traditional grading system after switching to mandatory pass/fail grades in the spring. Chemerinsky wrote that other top law schools are also restoring their normal grading schemes.

Chemerinsky's message did not address tuition, and a law school spokesman could not immediately clarify whether it will increase from last year. A Harvard Law School 2L this week filed a class action against the university seeking tuition refunds on the grounds that the online education students received in the spring was "subpar in practically every aspect."

Berkeley plans to hold online community building events, including the option for incoming 1Ls to participate in "summer pods" led by 2LS and 3L in which they can get to know each other before the semester begins.

"Obviously, my hope was that we would be able to return to usual classes for the Fall semester," reads Chemerinsky's message. "I make the decision for all online classes because I am convinced that it is the best for the health of all in our community and will provide the best education for our students compared to the available alternatives."