What Will the Fall Semester Look Like? Provost Provides an Update
CGU Prepares for In-Person Instruction Through Thanksgiving, Online Instruction Following Thanksgiving Break Through December Break
The following is the text of a June 16 message sent by CGU Provost Patricia Easton to the university community on dates and plans for the fall semester.
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Dear CGU Students, Staff, and Faculty,
Below is an important update on the academic calendar for the five undergraduate institutions of The Claremont Colleges (TCC). The announcement of an early start and early end date for their fall semester will not significantly impact the academic calendar at CGU.
The first day of classes at CGU is Monday, August 31, 2020. Starting on this date, rather than the original 7 college TCC date of September 1, 2020, will allow CGU staff, faculty, and students to enjoy Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day holiday without the need to make up an additional class day during the semester.
The last day of classes is as scheduled, Saturday, December 12th; the last day of the semester is December 19, with finals week as originally scheduled for Dec 14-19. In an abundance of caution due to the flu season and possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections, all classes should plan to conclude any in-person instruction by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The remainder of the semester’s instruction and finals should plan to be conducted remotely.
As I communicated in my April 28 message, we plan to return to in-person campus instruction and activity in the fall. A recent draft of guidelines for reopening from the county suggest that a fall return is possible, although there will be some additional changes/restrictions to meet and/or exceed state health and safety expectations. We know that there are at least some of our community members—staff, students, and faculty—who are not to be able to return to social contact in the fall. The draft guidelines stipulate that vulnerable employees and students (e.g., those above age 65, those who are pregnant, and those with chronic health conditions) should plan to work remotely whenever possible.
Our default for instruction will be hybrid classes so that remote participation will be possible even for those classes that focus on in-person instruction. Therefore, some portions of our programs and curriculum may be delivered through an online format as necessary to maintain appropriate social distancing guidelines in classrooms and to protect vulnerable community members.
I hope you are managing the many challenges before us. Be well and stay healthy and take care of yourself and others.
Patricia Easton, Provost
- For more information, visit the emergency information page for CGU’s response to COVID-19