ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University Interim President George Hynd announced on Dec. 14 modifications to Winthrop’s spring 2021 academic schedule due to COVID-19.
The first adjustment, similar to the fall 2020 semester, will be to implement a remote start in order for the semester to begin as planned on Monday, Jan. 11. The in-person component of instruction – about 70 percent of courses will be a mix of hybrid and full in person – will begin a week later on Tuesday, Jan. 19, which is the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Hynd said this will provide more time to implement the university’s spring COVID-19 testing requirement wherein residential students and those taking in-person classes must present a timely negative test result to move back into the residence halls and/or attend in-person classes. “Both students and faculty members responded well to the fall remote start, and I expect this spring adjustment will be similarly accommodated,” he said.
Other modifications include a different approach to spring break. Instead of a traditional, week-long spring break, Hynd said those five class days will now be spread out over three months. While he hoped to preserve the traditional spring break in March, it is not in the community’s best interest to have a week off from classes in the middle of the semester, he said.
“We heard the importance of building in some days off through the semester to relieve stress and give our students needed breaks,” Hynd said. “We have identified five days that have been spread throughout the semester to provide respite.”
On those days when no classes are offered, the university’s offices will be open.
The timeline for Winthrop’s spring semester now is:
Monday, January 11 First day of class – remote learning until Tuesday, Jan. 19
Monday, January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no classes
Tuesday, January 19 In-person classes begin
Tuesday, February 16 Spring break day 1 – no classes
Wednesday, March 3 Spring break day 2 – no classes
Thursday, March 18 Spring break day 3– no classes
Friday, April 9 Spring break day 4 – no classes
Monday, April 19 Spring break day 5 – no classes
Monday, April 26 Last day of class
Tuesday, April 27 Study day
Wednesday-Tuesday, Final exams
April 28-May 4
Thursday and Saturday Commencement ceremonies
May 6 & 8
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/323-2404.
