By Delaney Crawford//
The spring 2021 semester will start later than in years prior, with students set to return to campus after a two-month break the weekend of Jan. 30 and begin classes Monday, Feb. 1.
The spring semester will also end later than usual–at the end of May. While students don’t mind the later start to the spring semester, there have been some complaints about it running until late May.
“It’s really nice to spend more time with my family with the longer winter break, but it’s now harder to make plans for the summer since we end so late,” junior Jess Lyons said.
This spring the college will offer 741 course sections for undergraduate and graduate students. Most classes will either be fully online or the traditional-hybrid style, depending on the professor. Only 6.48% of undergraduate classes will be online while 14.57% will be hybrid.
Registrar Ashley Anderson said that a new class she is excited for this spring is music 299i, History of Jazz, a special topic course.
COVID-19 regulations will still be in place for the spring semester and while there is a plan already in place from this current semester, more planning is needed for the spring.
“There is a New Horizon plan that we have worked on. We reviewed what has been working and what needs to be improved from the fall for the spring,” Anderson said.
Some schools have already decided to not have students on campus this spring, but Hood always intended to hold classes on campus.
“A lot of schools have different plans, but not having a semester was never an option,” Anderson said. “Hood wants to be here for its students, it was always just about deciding on what the semester is going to look like and what is the safest way to deliver a high-quality education.”
Registration for the 2021 spring semester and the new J-term will begin on Monday, Nov. 9. Seniors will register first on Monday at 12:01 a.m., followed by juniors the next day, then sophomores and then first-years on Thursday.
The college plans to hold graduation ceremonies in May for both the class of 2020 and 2021.
“Everyone should look forward to commencement this spring. It will be interesting to see two different class years graduating in the same year. We are looking forward to seeing people back on campus, but still want to remain safe,” Anderson said. “Now after this fall semester, professors have been able to prepare, so I look forward to instructors and students feeling more secure in online learning and hopefully we can all look forward to a possible vaccine and the return of all in-person classes soon.”
Excellent writing and information! Thank you.