Virginia community colleges will continue to hold most classes remotely in the spring, as four-year universities across the state manage current COVID-19 clusters on their campuses.

Virginia Community College System chancellor Glenn DuBois announced the news in a letter to the community on Friday. Three quarters of the system’s classes are taking place remotely this fall, and will stay that way come spring.

“With the threat posed by the pandemic still very much upon us, this approach represents the safest and most prudent choice we can make to serve you this spring,” DuBois’ statement reads. 

According to DuBois’ statement, only select courses, like technical education and science labs, will be administered face-to-face in the spring.

VCCS oversees 23 community colleges and 40 different campuses in the commonwealth, including nearby Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax County. From 2018-2019, the system enrolled more than 200,000 students in online and in-person classes.

The early decision to delay a return to in-person classes for several more months follows several outbreaks on campuses across the region. James Madison University sent its students home on Sept. 1 — only one week into classes — after the university reported more than 500 COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, University of Virginia instituted its first dorm-wide quarantine after identifying 15 positive cases in one residence hall. In D.C., a George Washington University off-campus fraternity house closed to visitors after several members tested positive. Most other colleges and universities in the region have not announced their plans for spring classes.