Fall semester will begin early to finish classes before Thanksgiving break, final exams to be online

President Greg Crawford announced in a campus-wide email today that Miami is planning to welcome students back in the fall with changes to this semester’s structure.

The fall semester will begin a week early on Aug. 17, and all classes will be finished by Thanksgiving break, according to Crawford’s email. After the break, students will not return to campus for the remainder of the fall semester and will complete final examinations remotely. Accommodations will be made for those who can’t leave campus.

Details on J-term and spring semester are unknown at this time.

Crawford’s email also mentioned changes to classroom structure and the potential of online classes in the fall.

“While our primary emphasis will always be on in-person, personal interaction, we must be creative and adaptable to meet public health measures such as face-coverings and physical distancing requirements,” he wrote. “In some cases, we may need to have courses online due to social distancing and space limitations.”

The email also states that there will be the implementation of actions such as physical distancing requirements, daily health assessments, the use of face coverings, and take-out dining options.

The university will also be working with TriHealth to create a plan for testing and a system to isolate or quarantine students who may be exposed to the novel coronavirus.

The Safe Return to Campus (SR2C) Planning and Coordinating Committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students from across Miami’s campuses, will provide weekly updates on the efforts taking place for the return to campus in the fall.

@briah_lumpkins

lumpkibm@miamioh.edu