Dear students, faculty and staff,
As we look ahead to Spring 2021, we are committed to offering the best on-campus living, learning and working environment that we can under the current challenges that we continue to face due to COVID-19. Our planning continues to be driven by four guiding principles:
- Maintain an on-campus learning, residential and working environment that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the campus population,
- Prevent the spread of the virus by following guidance provided by public health officials and agencies,
- Fulfill our core mission of education, research, and service, and
- Enable our students to maintain academic progress toward earning their degrees.
We recognize that the restrictions on campus activities have made this semester different for our students. While faculty and staff feel the difference as well, they are committed to delivering an outstanding educational experience to our students.
This message provides an overview of the modified academic calendar, the health and safety measures that will be in place as well as other relevant details known about the spring.
Spring 2021 Health and Safety Protocols
The established public health protocols and parameters outlined in our Campus Ready Plan will remain in effect, including wearing masks and practicing social distancing. These parameters and protocols are constantly evolving and are continuously being evaluated as our environment and understanding changes.
The established public health protocols and parameters outlined in our Campus Ready Plan will remain in effect, including wearing masks and practicing social distancing. These parameters and protocols are constantly evolving and are continuously being evaluated as our environment and understanding changes.
Classroom Capacity and Engagement
Like every university in our state system and the Southeastern Conference, we must maintain reduced capacity in our classrooms to allow for social distancing. This reality constrains our ability to offer classes that can meet face-to-face. We will offer as many classes as we can with a face-to-face component, up to the protocol-adjusted capacity of our classroom spaces. Course formats for Spring 2021 will be determined and made known prior to registration so students can take this into consideration.
There will be many opportunities for faculty to engage with students in every course. These opportunities will be announced to the class or posted in the syllabus. Of course, these opportunities are more prevalent in remote, face-to-face, and hybrid formats. Interactions with faculty can take many forms, like class instruction, office hours, extra recitation, virtual discussions, etc.
Condensed Spring Schedule
- Martin Luther King Jr. holiday (UM closed) will remain on the calendar for Jan. 18, 2021.
- Classes will begin as originally scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.
- Spring break will be canceled to complete the semester as quickly as possible while mitigating risks associated with travel. This has been widely adopted as a best practice in the current environment by universities across the country.
- Good Friday holiday (UM closed) will remain on the calendar for April 2, 2021.
- Classes will end April 23, 2021, which is one week earlier than previously scheduled.
- Final exams will be completed by April 30, 2021.
- Faculty will remain on contract until May 15, 2021.
For more information, please see the academic calendar for Spring 2021 on the registrar’s site.
Commencement
We consider it a great privilege to celebrate our graduates and their accomplishments during Commencement each year, and we are pleased to announce ceremony dates for the Class of 2021 as well as the Class of 2020. While we were unable to hold an in-person event for the Class of 2020 this past May because of the pandemic, we are eager to welcome them back to campus to celebrate and honor their incredible achievements, character and spirit.
In anticipation that we will be able to interact more freely in May, we are planning both commencement ceremonies for that time. If COVID-19 restrictions are still in place, we will make and announce any adjustments to the formats of these events. We will share more details as they are finalized.
- Class of 2021 Commencement — The main ceremony and most individual ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 1, 2021. Some individual ceremonies may take place the day before or day after May 1. Details about individual ceremonies will follow.
- Class of 2020 Commencement — The main ceremony and most individual ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021. Some individual ceremonies may take place the day before May 8. Details about individual ceremonies will follow.
In spite of the many challenges we have faced and continue to tackle since the onset of the pandemic, I’m grateful and humbled by the incredible commitment and determination of our university community to look after all of our students as well as our faculty and staff. We remain committed to delivering the education, experience and value that is synonymous with Ole Miss.
Stay healthy, stay well.
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
Chancellor