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Dear Students: 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. Please watch your email for further instructions from Residence Life and Health Services on planning your return next month. 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. To be clear, these are days when there will be no classes; offices will be open. 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. Because of our efforts thus far, we have pulled off the fall semester and have plans in place for a safe spring semester. But this is definitely not the time to become complacent, and in some areas we do need to improve. Masking, social distancing and hand-washing are really all we have to protect ourselves and each other from this virus until vaccines are readily available. I implore you, when you are in campus buildings, you must have on a mask and wear it correctly (under the nose is a pet peeve of mine and an affront to many). You mustn’t congregate for conversation or have close interactions with others. While we don’t have many who disregard these requirements, those who do put folks at risk, whether they mean to or not. 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 |
