CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In North Carolina, many colleges and universities were forced to return to online learning for the semester after seeing spikes of COVID-19 cases in dorms and on campus.

In Charlotte, one apartment complex is working to salvage the on-campus experience for students.

The University Crossings apartment complex is located across the street from UNC Charlotte and houses hundreds of students.

While students are starting the semester online, the apartment complex is trying to do its part to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The staff has added door handle covers that automatically clean the surface, and they’ve also installed hand-sanitizer stations around the complex.

Grace George is a first year Master's student living in University Crossings and says she hopes her peers take the safety measures seriously so they can eventually return to campus.

“A lot of people when they come to college, they want to party. But if they wait, because it’s a four-year program, so if they wait later on and let the numbers spike down, then they might be able to enjoy themselves,” George says.

The first day of classes for UNC Charlotte is September 7. The plan is to start the semester online with the hope of returning to in-person instruction in October.