Dear Parents and Families:
Back in October I announced that we expected spring semester to follow the academic schedule set earlier in the year with in-person instruction beginning January 11, spring break March 15-19, and final exams April 28-May 4. At the time, I noted that we would continue to track decision “triggers” that may change our plans. Current COVID-19 risk levels in the community and state, capacity of local hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients, and the very real potential for exposure that could impact the campus after the holiday break are sobering developments that make clear we need to adjust our plans in order to continue to protect our university community from the spread of the virus.
We are making the following adjustments to the spring semester, which will not impact tuition and fees for students.
Remote Start January 11
The first adjustment we will make is to have another remote start which will allow us to begin the semester as planned on January 11, yet also help us mitigate virus spread as the holiday season winds down. This also will provide more time to implement our 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 halls and/or attend class. Both students and faculty members responded well to the fall remote start, and I expect this spring adjustment will be similarly accommodated. The in-person component of our instruction will begin the day after the MLK holiday on Tuesday, January 19.
Different Approach to Spring Break
While we had sincerely hoped to preserve a weeklong 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. Our second adjustment then will be to forego the traditional spring break, and in doing so, reduce increased virus transmission that we have seen goes hand in hand with travel and tourism activities. In discussion with several groups about the possibility of foregoing the week off from classes, we heard the importance of building in some days off through the semester to relieve stress and give our students needed breaks. I agree with this, and in order to provide some breaks without impact to class scheduling, we have identified five days that have been spread throughout the semester to provide respite.
Updated Calendar
With the above adjustments, the timeline for our spring semester now is:
Monday, January 11 First day of class -- remote 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
With this schedule, fully online and shorter-term classes will not need any adjustment.
Thank you for taking time to read this message. Please know that the university’s leadership remains committed to offering the Winthrop education that students and their families have come to expect, in as safe an environment as possible.
Sincerely,
George
George W. Hynd
Interim President
