The University of Michgan will offer a mix of in-person and remote classes this fall, President Mark Schlissel announces. He described the offerings as "public health-informed."
Not all courses will be available in both formats, but most students will be able to choose whether to return to Ann Arbor for a "hybrid learning experience" or study from home, Schlissel says in a statement:
Thanks to the thoughtful and deliberate efforts of hundreds of members of the U-M community, our cautious optimism about the fall has coalesced into a path forward. Their work has given me confidence that we can do this safely, and we will continue to plan and prepare in the months ahead.
We now have the opportunity to begin a new journey together, equipped with the very best guidance and ideas from our leading scholars, innovative students and expert staff.
The Ann Arbor campus will open residence halls for housing and dining. UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint have plans for hybrid instruction that their chancellors will share, he said.
Ann Arbor classes begin Aug. 31, as previously scheduled, but fall break will be eliminated. The last day of in-person classes for the semester will be Friday, Nov. 20. After a nine-day-long Thanksgiving break, classes will resume remotely Nov. 30 and continue until Dec. 8., with finals running Dec. 10-18.
Winter term will begin Jan. 19, a later January start to provide time for health safeguards. Spring break is dropped.