With the plan to address COVID-19 concerns approved by the Board of Trustees (BOT) on June 10, 2020, during the fall and spring of next school year, students will be required to test negative for COVID-19 and will not have spring break.
The plan for classes for the fall semester will be similar to what students saw in the spring of 2020. The fall semester will be 15 weeks long and be a combination of in-person and online classes. The fall semester will start on August 24 and continue until November 23. During this time, classes will be held on campus, and they will be a combination of both in-person and online. Keep in mind that the specifics about each class will be at the discretion of the faculty. This allows the professor to decide if they want to instruct online or in person. It also allows students to feel safe but still feel satisfied with their education.
“Most of our classes will have in-person instruction in the classroom and teaching labs, but to maintain social distancing, some classes will be online. But a higher number of courses may be delivered online.” Said acting President Neil Theobald.
After November 23, the campus will be closed, and the rest of the semester will be online, including the finals. With the semester coming to an end on December 4, 2020.
In the spring, the semester will start on January 25, 2020. The semester will be like the fall semester and be 15 weeks long and go until May 8, 2020. During this 15 weeks, there will be no spring break, so students do not go home or go to a different place and bring back COVID.
“It is our hope that the spring semester will have fewer restrictions, but time will tell.” Said President-Designate, Edward Seidel.
All faculty/staff and students will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. If anyone fails to comply with the new guidelines, they will be dealt with according to the Student Code of Conduct.
The best thing that the students can do right now is to make the best of the situation and return to campus, do what Pokes do best, get a good education and help each other get through this time.
