by Dr Jonathan Spiro, Interim President of Castleton University I am pleased to announce Castleton University’s intention to resume face-to-face instruction this fall. As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to extend through the year, and the arrival of students on campus will likely require a number of safety measures. Nevertheless, I am excited for students to return in August, and our faculty and staff are working hard to ensure we can provide them with the best possible experience.
To that end, we are modifying the start and end dates of the fall semester to protect the health of our community. Public health experts are concerned about the potential spread of COVID-19 if large numbers of students, faculty, and staff leave our area for the Thanksgiving holiday and then return to campus the following week. Accordingly, we will cease face-to-face instruction at Thanksgiving and students will not return to campus until the spring semester begins in January. Finals Week will take place online the week after Thanksgiving.
Our measures are designed to ensure that our students receive the fifteen weeks of instruction required to earn full course credit. Accordingly, because instruction will end two weeks earlier than normal, we will make up the missing weeks by (1) starting the semester one week early on August 18, and (2) continuing to teach during the week that would have served as October Break (which will further promote safety by reducing movement to and from our campus during another common time for travel).
To review:
- Instruction begins on Tuesday, August 18.
- Instruction ends on Tuesday, November 24 (Thanksgiving is November 26).
- Final Exams take place online from November 30-December 4.
Thank you for helping us protect the health of everyone who works and studies at Castleton as well as the health of your families and the communities in which you live. We will send out further updates as our planning for the fall progresses.
I look forward to seeing all of our students back on our beautiful campus on August 18!
President Spiro