On Jun. 23, students, graduates and employees of St. Lawrence University received an update about the status of the 2020-2021 academic year.  This update gave details about the administration’s plan for an on-campus experience and restrictions that will ensure a safe living environment for students and faculty under COVID-19.

According to the Jun. 23 email, the upcoming year will be split into three semesters, with no more than 1800 students allowed on campus at any time.  Along with the email, students were sent a survey asking their preferences between the three semesters.  While the administration hopes to reach appropriate numbers for each semester voluntarily, some students may be assigned to a semester they did not request if those numbers are passed.  However, seniors are guaranteed both Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 on campus if desired, and incoming first-year and transfer students are being given preference for Fall 2020.

Fall 2020 will run from Aug. 26 to Dec. 11.  Students must remain on campus for the duration of the semester, though students will be allowed to leave at Thanksgiving and conduct the rest of their semester remotely.  After Thanksgiving, all classes will move online to accommodate students who go home.  All Fall 2020 abroad programs have been cancelled.

Spring 2021 will run from Jan. 4 to April 16.  Mid-semester and spring breaks have also been cancelled.  While Spring 2020 study abroad programs have not been officially cancelled, it is expected that most if not all of them will be.

Summer 2021 will run for 10 weeks, from May 3 to Jul. 9.  Some classes will run for the full 10 weeks, while others will be condensed into five weeks.  Summer 2021 will also include study abroad options, either as short-term class components or full four-class, 10 week programs.

The classes themselves will be changing to adjust to the new reality under COVID-19.  Some classes will be moving to an online format, even while the members of the class are on campus.  Others will use a joint online and in-person format.  The good news is that regardless of format, most course offerings for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 are remaining the same.

When returning to campus, students will also have to sign an agreement detailing social distancing guidelines that they will have to follow, as well as consenting to be tested for COVID-19 when arriving back at St. Lawrence and two weeks later.  Room and board are also being reexamined.

As students try to make the best decisions about which of the three semesters are right for them, the school will be holding Town Hall meetings for each class on Wednesday, Jul. 1 on the Zoom platform.  Faculty and administration will be answering questions to the best of their ability to help students decide.

Commencement for the class of 2020 has been postponed until Spring or Summer of 2021, to allow graduates to schedule and provide the opportunity for as many to attend as possible.  However, the school does understand that it may be impossible for some graduates to attend, and have promised to make sure that they still receive the recognition they have earned.  The event will also be live-streamed for those who cannot travel to Canton.

The administration is also making a special effort to plan commencement for the class of 2021, and will be announcing the details soon.

Although COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to rise, St. Lawrence University is making efforts to ensure student’s safety.  SLU is following state and federal guidelines for safe reopening, as well as listening to medical and scientific information that is available.  It is likely that changes in the development of the COVID-19 crisis will cause St. Lawrence’s plans to change before the Fall 2020 semester starts, but the current plan will help students prepare for the upcoming year.