Archived News

WCU announces spring semester schedule

WCU announces spring semester schedule

Western Carolina University has announced changes to the spring 2021 schedule related to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The semester will begin on Monday, Jan. 25, two weeks later than typical, and the semester will include an abbreviated midterm break and no spring break. Instruction will continue in the vein of the current fall semester, using a blend of face-to-face, online and hybrid course delivery.

For the midsemester break, scheduled to coincide with Easter, there will be no classes between Thursday, April 1, and Monday, April 5. The last day of classes will be Friday, May 7, followed by final exams Saturday, May 8, through Friday, May 14.

Spring commencement is tentatively set for Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, although those dates are subject to change.

In addition, there will be no classes for Reading Day on Wednesday, Feb. 24, or for Advising Day on Tuesday, March 9.

The full spring semester calendar is available at the Office of the Registrar website at www.wcu.edu/learn/academic-calendar.aspx

Related Items

With the spring academic calendar now set, university leaders are working on related operational details, including plans for residential living, dining, student move-in, large campus gatherings and athletics events. Future updates will be posted online at the Spring 2021 Operations and Procedures website, currently in development.

So far, infection rates have remained low on campus for the fall 2020 semester. Between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27, 228 coronavirus tests were administered, with only two yielding a positive result for a positivity rate of 0.9 percent, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Currently, only five of 95 beds reserved for on-campus isolation and quarantine are in use. Off-campus, 93 students are currently in quarantine or self-isolation.

Since July 1, 124 students, five employees and five subcontractors have tested positive.

Numbers are updated daily at www.wcu.edu/coronavirus/reporting.aspx

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.