UNC Chapel Hill And NC State Plan To Start Fall Semester Early
North Carolina’s two biggest universities have announced their plans for the Fall 2020 semester. Much to the delight of my Chapel Hill-bound son, the plans includes in-person classes. The News & Observer reports that UNC Chapel Hill and N.C. State will start classes on August 10th, about two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.
The fall semester will also end earlier before a possible second wave of COVID-19 in late-November or December could potentially close campuses again. The traditional fall break is cancelled and final exams will be completed by November 24th, two days before Thanksgiving. Students will then be home through the holiday season.
While instruction will take place on campus at both universities, class sizes will be smaller, fewer classes will be held during the week, and some will be scheduled on weekends. Larger spaces may be used to better adhere to social distancing recommendations. If necessary, some classes could still be offered remotely.
Other universities around the state have also unveiled their fall semester plans. UNC Greensboro and NC A&T State University will begin their classes on time and end by Thanksgiving. Both schools canceled fall break and finals will be taken online. Duke University will also be open in the fall but will announce specific schedule details by the end of June.
Closer to home, UNC Charlotte announced that its fall semester will begin on September 7th, two weeks later than originally planned. UNCC has also canceled all fall study abroad programs.
