Fall Semester Plans

Dear Students:

We are now making plans for a fall semester that will include a full academic program, offering a mixture of on-campus and remote learning, the re-opening of campus housing and other student services, and the resumption of campus activities. In order to provide for your health and safety, the University will have extensive policies in place in regard to face coverings, hand sanitizing, room and equipment cleaning, social distancing, health monitoring, and many other related areas.

We will share all the details with you in the coming weeks so that you will know what to expect when you return to campus. I also wanted to make you aware of one important decision, an adjustment to the Instructional Calendar for the fall semester. The term will be moved up one week, with classes starting on Tuesday, August 25 and ending on Monday, December 14, with no on-campus instruction after Thanksgiving. The period after Thanksgiving will be limited to remotely delivered instruction, projects, and final exams. This change will significantly decrease the population density on campus just about the time, at the end of November, when respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus, typically become more active.

Details about housing and dining services, and many other things will be available shortly.

I know that you have wanted, and needed, to return to campus, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you back. For those among you who may need to continue instruction remotely, there will be options available as well.

In the meantime, please continue to stay safe and well, and try to enjoy some of the wonderful summer weather.

Sincerely,
President Cole