Westminster College will adjust its fall 2020 academic calendar to prioritize the health and safety of its students, employees and visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic when it resumes in-person instruction and residence life for the fall semester.

Under the revised calendar, fall 2020 semester classes will start on Monday, Aug. 17 and conclude with finals just before Thanksgiving. There will be no fall midterm break. Fall semester classes will end Friday, Nov. 20, and final exams will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 through Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Students will depart campus after finals and return for the spring 2021 semester in January.

“The adjustment to the academic calendar will limit the number of times the entire student body leaves and returns to campus during the term, which we hope will promote health and safety in our community,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coker, vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management at Westminster.

College administrators, faculty and staff are developing policies and practices necessary for a safe return to campus while continuing the College’s 168 years of academic excellence and robust campus life experience.

To mitigate the spread of the virus, the College continues to examine curriculum adjustments and safety protocols that need to be made to academic instruction, residence life, dining services, athletics, campus activities and arts and culture events. Details regarding move-in, orientation, trainings for sports seasons and marching band are being finalized and will be communicated as soon as possible.

The College shifted exclusively to online instruction on March 19. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) announced the cancellation of all spring sports on April 3. Competition this fall will be determined by PAC guidelines.

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