September 30, 2020
Dear Pitt Faculty, Students and Staff,
I am writing to share our plans for the spring term calendar. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue through the winter months. Consequently, in consultation with the calendar committee, the Health Care Advisory Group and the COVID-19 Medical Response Office (CMRO), the Council of Deans including regional campus presidents, the staff association and senate council presidents, and the SGB president, we have decided to move the start of spring term classes from Monday, January 11, to Tuesday, January 19. We have created a compressed schedule, which eliminates spring recess to maximize the health and safety of our community but includes the addition of two student self-care days and ends the term as originally scheduled on May 1.
We currently intend to offer spring term classes through the Flex@Pitt model to provide instructors and students with flexible choices in how they wish to teach and learn. Flex@Pitt will allow students to continue classes throughout the term regardless of the course of the pandemic.
Highlights of the spring term academic calendar include:
- The first day of spring term classes: Tuesday, January 19
- The spring term add/drop deadline: Friday, February 5. The extended drop period is being removed, since students will have 2.5 weeks to add/drop classes. This is the same add/drop format used for this current fall term.
- Student self-care day: Tuesday, February 23
- Spring recess from Sunday, March 7, to Sunday, March 14: Eliminated
- The University’s observance of the spring holiday on Friday, March 12: Rescheduled to Friday, May 7
- Student self-care day: Wednesday, March 24
- Monitored withdrawal deadline: Friday, March 26
- Spring term ends: Saturday, May 1
Details regarding the closing of residence halls at the end of fall term and reopening at the beginning of spring term will be provided in the coming weeks.
All plans for the spring term, including the status of remote or in-person classes, are subject to adjustment based on the operational risk postures of our campuses. I will continue to provide status updates.
Thank you for your exceptional efforts this fall. These are very challenging days, but I look forward to the spring term and the work we will do together.
Hail to Pitt!
Ann E. Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
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