Miami University President Gregory P. Crawford said students will be returning to the Oxford campus for fall semester on Aug. 17 — that’s one week earlier than originally planned so they can complete all of their classes before Thanksgiving break and take their final exams remotely, according to a release.
“After reviewing our academic calendar and considering scenarios to provide the highest probability of a full and healthy semester on campus, we determined that eliminating travel back and forth to campus at Thanksgiving is the best option for the safety and health of our students and their families, and for our faculty and staff,” Crawford says.
Miami says it is working with local health officials and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Ohio Department of Health and will “implement physical distancing requirements, daily health self-assessments, the use of face coverings, enhanced cleaning, partitions where appropriate and take-out dining options” for the safety of faculty, students and visitors.
Miami is also working with TriHealth on a plan for testing, quarantine and isolation for COVID-19.
The curriculum will also be flexible to accommodate students who need to self-isolate or have existing health conditions that make it unsafe for them to be in a classroom environment. Some classes may also be moved online for social distancing and space concerns.
“Regardless of the method of delivery, we are committed to providing a Miami-quality education, continuing our relationship-driven, liberal arts foundation, experiential-rich education, founded on character and intellect,” Crawford said.
For more, visit miamioh.edu.
This article appears in May 6 – Jun 14, 2020.