Coronavirus: UD makes changes to spring semester in effort to reduce travel from campus

DAYTON — Shorter breaks in the spring and a pushed back start to the semester are among some of the changes announced Friday to the spring academic calendar for the University of Dayton.

>>RELATED: UD reports COVID-19 outbreaks among students in residence halls

UD officials announced the changes in a message sent to campus members Friday, saying the changes were needed due to the continued uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally the changes were made intentionally to discourage travel away from campus during the normal spring and Easter breaks, campus leaders said.

“Given the continued uncertainties around the pandemic, we have made changes to the calendar that will support the good work of our students, faculty, and staff in observing the safety protocols that are helping to protect our campus community," Paul Benson, UD Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs said in the message.

“We again are discouraging travel away from campus during the spring semester; these calendar changes intentionally reduce opportunities for travel.”

UD moved back the start of the semester by one week, with classes scheduled to start on Tuesday, Jan. 19, after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Campus events will still take place in celebration of MLK Day, and will be announced later.

Spring break is cancelled and will be replaced with two smaller breaks on Tuesday Feb. 23 and Wednesday April 14. On both of those days, daytime classes will be cancelled. The exception is for graduate-level classes that meet after 3:35 p.m. or classes that meet only once per week; they will be held as usual.

Easter break will also be shortened. UD will only be closed for Good Friday and classes will be held on the Thursday before, and Monday after Easter.

UD is also continuing to work on plans for the Spring commencement, saying the format has yet to be determined and the university will work with Public Health of Dayton and Montgomery County on determining how to hold a large indoor gathering. A decision is expected to be announced in March.

Cox Media Group