Next week marks the eighth week of the fall semester and the halfway point for the term. As we prepare for the fall break, please make note of the following important announcements.
1) Fall break:
Traditional undergraduate programs and classes will break for the planned fall semester break (October 15-16, 2020). However, we urge traditional undergraduate students to consider remaining in the residence halls in lieu of travel.
Extended weekends result in increased COVID case counts. We experienced this first-hand after Labor Day weekend.
With cases on the rise, and particularly so in Wisconsin, we urge you to take extra care over the break. Avoid large gatherings. Wear your masks. Maintain social distancing. Wash your hands. We ask every student, faculty, and staff member to think very carefully about their fall break plans and to make choices that err on the side of caution.
You have the power to help us continue to successfully hold back the COVID infection rate on our campuses. Each of us must demonstrate personal responsibility for the benefit of our whole community.
2) Instructional options:
Following Thanksgiving break, traditional graduate and undergraduate students will choose whether to complete their fall semester either virtually or in-person.
After Thanksgiving break, traditional students will choose whether to learn in-person or virtually/online during the week of November 30 - December 4. Some courses cannot accommodate poly-synchronous experiences. Your professors will notify you if that is the case for any of your classes.
3) Final exams:
All final exams, final projects and papers, and other culminating assessment experiences will be delivered virtually/online during the week of December 7-11.
Students will complete most exams and/or submit final papers and projects via Blackboard. Some courses require in-person exams (for example, laboratory practicals, or exams that must be given face-to-face due to accreditation requirements). Your professors will notify you if that is the case for any of your classes.
4) Campus access:
November 30 - December 11, During the final weeks of the semester (the last week of class and final exam week), campus will remain open.
Residence halls, dining services, library and computer services will be open and available to students. Faculty will be available both in-person and virtually/online to support you. Students will have the choice whether to access the fullness of their Concordia academic and campus life experience in-person or virtually. There will not be any refunds distributed to students who opt to reside off campus while taking their last week of class and their final exams virtually.
5) December commencement:
The December degree conferral and commencement ceremony will take place virtually on Saturday, December 12 for CUW and Sunday, December 13 for CUAA. More details will be communicated from the Provost over the coming weeks. Continue to watch your email.
6) 2021 spring break and may 2021 commencement changes:
As recently communicated via the video update from President Ferry, we will not break for a spring break in the spring semester. We will take days off at Easter.
Classes will not be held after 4:00 pm on Thursday, April 1, 2021. The university will close on Good Friday (Friday, April 2, 2021); no classes will be held in-person, virtually, or online on Friday (April 2), Saturday (April 3) or Sunday (April 4; Easter Sunday). On Monday, April 5 the university will open but classes that begin before 4:00 pm on Monday will not meet. Classes resume as usual beginning on Monday, April 5 at 4:00 pm.
The spring semester will end a week earlier than usual. Spring Commencement will be held the weekend of May 8 and 9. More information about this will be communicated with you from the Provost’s Office early in the new year.
Students, we are incredibly grateful for everything you are doing, each and every day, to ensure the virus remains as contained as possible. We will continue to meet this moment and, with everyone’s collective effort and smart behavior, we will do so in-person as much as we are safely able.
Thank you for continuing to do your part in this effort.
From: Dr. William Cario, Provost; Dr. Steve Taylor, Vice President, Student Life; Dr. Gretchen Jameson, SVP, Strategy and University Affairs; Dr. Ryan Peterson, Vice President, Administratio.