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Oct. 22, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Today, we are announcing that the spring 2021 semester will start on Jan. 14 and the campus will continue to offer in-person and remote courses. We’re also sharing key updates to address a number of lessons learned this fall.

As part of our efforts to curb the spread of travel-related COVID-19 infections in our community, the university has made the difficult decision of opting out of scheduling a traditional weeklong spring break in 2021. This decision was made after careful deliberation and to protect the health and well-being of our community. Instead of the typical five-day spring break, we will start the semester three days later than previously scheduled and provide students with two days off on Feb. 17 and March 25.

In the weeks and months ahead, our intention is to improve the campus experience for you––our students, faculty and staff––and continue to provide educational, social, health and wellness support to ensure a successful spring semester.

Along with our continued efforts to deliver a more robust campus experience, we remain committed to working collaboratively with our city and county partners to hold a successful spring semester for all of us by being aware of and continuing to comply with the latest COVID-19 public health guidance.

The key operational updatesannounced today for the spring term address academic calendar dates, academic instruction modes, expanded on-campus social programming, residence life and isolation spaces, public health guidelines, the launch of a new and improved daily health check-in experience, and enhancements to our student engagement and support model.

In addition, we invite you to join us for tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to noon, when we will answer your questions.

We are working hard to address the challenges, disappointments and frustrations created by COVID-19. Let’s work together to rise to these challenges as a community and to serve and help each other through any unpredictable issues that lie ahead. Like every university in the nation during this historic pandemic, we know we won’t be able to deliver the full, traditional college experience you want and deserve—but we are working to safely provide the richest experience we can. You can continue to count on receiving a high-quality education in a beautiful college town, with housing and dining options and access to COVID-19 testing. 

Even in the face of uncertainty, we are committed to providing you with a more engaging, safe, fun and valuable experience as you continue your academic journey this spring.

Sincerely,

Russell Moore
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Patrick O’Rourke
Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer