University of Idaho faculty, staff and students received a survey in their inboxes this morning about three possible options for the Spring 2021 semester schedule.
Testing will be required for all Moscow-based students at the beginning of the semester, just like in Fall 2020. Classes could begin in an online format to accommodate for the testing period, the email stated, but Spring Break could present the need for a second online instruction period. Faculty Senate and the Provost’s Council are working to avoid these challenges by presenting potential changes to the academic calendar.
“Unfortunately, we must assume that COVID-19 will continue throughout spring and our current safety and testing protocols will remain in place,” Torrey Lawrence, interim provost and executive vice president, said in the email. “We will adapt if circumstances change but plans need to be developed now and we need your input.”
The survey options include allowing Spring Break to continue as scheduled, delaying Spring Break until April and transitioning online afterwards or cancelling Spring Break and starting classes one week later.
If no changes are made, Spring 2021 classes would begin Jan. 13 with one to two weeks of online instruction. Spring Break would take place March 15-19 and would be followed by one to two weeks of online instruction.
If Spring Break is delayed until April, classes would begin Jan. 13 with one to two weeks of online instruction. Spring Break would take place April 19-23 and would be followed by three weeks of online instruction.
According to the email, this would avoid the need to re-test all students in the middle of the semester, mirroring the Fall 2020 model, but would require additional online instruction, separate UI’s Spring Break from those of local school districts and could pose a challenge to Commencement plans.
If Spring Break is cancelled, classes would begin Jan. 20 with one to two weeks of online instruction and the semester would end on May 14 with no mid-semester break.
This would minimize travel and eliminate the need to re-test students in the middle of the semester, but the semester would take place over 16 weeks without a break other than President’s Day, the email stated.
WWAMI and the UI College of Law follow a different academic calendar. These options would apply specifically to the general UI academic calendar.
The survey will close 5 p.m. Oct. 5.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]