Retrievers Return Roadmap

Also in this section:
Guiding Principles for Return to Campus Planning
Return Roadmap & Fall 2020 Planning
Planning Process & Assumptions
Instructional Strategy
Relaunching Research and Creative Activity (RCA)
Students, Health, and Well-Being
Planning for Intercollegiate Athletics
Faculty and Staff Return to Campus Plan


UMBC will transition from our current state of fully remote operation toward on-campus, in-person teaching, learning, and research and creative achievement (RCA) through thoughtful, deliberate planning and flexible implementation strategies responsive to changing conditions.

While it will be necessary to identify clear target dates to stage the successful return to on-campus and in-person operations, assessment (both formative and interim) will be critical prior to, and during, each stage to inform and adapt the plan to benefit from lessons learned.

During the fall semester, a limited number undergraduate and graduate courses will be offered with either full or partial in-person delivery. In-person graduate-level thesis research will be relaunched in stages, beginning this summer. Courses planned to be offered in-person must meet specified instructional criteria that are based on the overarching principle of supporting student success, student progression, and timely degree completion. Remaining instruction/courses will be delivered virtually, with enhanced pedagogy through faculty support, expanded use of available technology and best practices, and additional support for students to assist with new ways of learning.

As early as mid-June we anticipate being able to proceed with a phased reopening of research labs and facilities to support key RCA activities and graduate thesis research. Priority will be given to RCA activities that cannot be conducted remotely, provided reasonable safety controls can be put in place and as near-term conditions dictate. During this early phase, we will pilot the recommendations of the USM Testing/Assessment Group and monitor resource availability to assess our readiness to safely implement targeted in-person instruction and reduced-density on-campus housing by the fall.

Staff and faculty who can work remotely—likely the majority of employees—will continue to do so in keeping with the goal of reducing risk of transmission.