In this section:
Guiding Principles
Planning Process
Lessons Learned
Town Halls
Latest Campus Communications

We anticipate that the Spring 2021 semester will be conducted very similarly to the fall semester, at a similar level of reduced density on campus for students, faculty, and staff. Important details include:

• The academic calendar is unchanged, including spring break. The first day of classes will be January 26.
• The first week of instruction will be conducted remotely. Face-to-face and hybrid classes that were scheduled to meet in person will now meet online on Tuesday, January 26 through Monday, February 1. 
• Most instruction will continue remotely, though we will continue to offer face-to-face and hybrid courses on campus. You can view our criteria for these courses here. Students will continue to have the option to take any class in fully remote format.
• We are working alongside faculty to determine which courses are most essential to offer face-to-face and to complete risk assessment/safety planning for those courses. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for more information.
• If conditions warrant, we are planning a limited increase in the number of in-person and hybrid courses and to make available space for additional residential students.
• Residence halls are expected to follow the same strategy employed during the fall semester, with no more than one student per room, and two sharing a bathroom.
• Most faculty and staff will continue to work remotely. A limited number of faculty and staff who are approved to work on campus will continue to do so, with review by campus leaders.
• Testing, training, symptom monitoring, and mask wearing will continue for students, faculty, and staff approved to be on campus. Information on safety precautions is available here.
• Research and Creative Achievement on-campus work will remain at its current level, and we will monitor the environment and adjust as appropriate.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at covid19@umbc.edu.