UPDATE: Most face-to-face instruction delayed until Feb. 7

Dear Beach Community:

At the recommendation of local public health officials and out of an abundance of caution, we will begin our spring semester on January 20 by offering primarily remote instruction to students, delaying most face-to-face instruction until Monday, February 7.

The safety of our community has always been our chief concern throughout the pandemic. Delayed in-person instruction was not what we had intended for this spring, but the rise of the Omicron variant warrants this adjustment. Among the lessons of the pandemic is continued flexibility, and we will monitor prevailing conditions and public health recommendations over the coming weeks.

Students can access their individual courses on Beachboard or look for emails from their instructors to learn details about the delivery of instruction in each of their courses as the semester gets underway. 

While the campus is and will remain open, some university staff will be asked to work remotely in the coming weeks to further reduce the number of people on campus. These decisions will be made at the unit and departmental levels by the appropriate administrator based on work functions and operational needs. 

The University Student Union, University Library, University Bookstore, the Horn Center, and Student Health Services will all continue to provide services to students with appropriate safety protocols in place, including the use of face coverings. Some other aspects of campus operations, such as spectators at athletics events, audiences for the performing arts, facilities reservations, and hours at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center may face short-term changes. Details about modifications in policy and procedures will be shared in the coming days both via email and on the websites of the respective units.

We’ve had a strong record of safety at The Beach, which we intend to continue. Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation as we confront this latest challenge. I'm confident we will still have a rewarding and enriching spring semester even as we make these temporary modifications.

Go Beach (safely)!

Jane Close Conoley, Ph.D.
President