Update, 11:45 a.m.: UNC's physical distancing guideline asks members of the Carolina community to remain at least 6 feet apart in outdoor and indoor settings, Carolina Together states. Individual deans can petition the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for an exception to have a standard distancing of 3 to 6 feet in certain classroom settings.
With an early semester start date, different course model options and new safety guidelines, the 2020 fall classroom experience will be untraditional to say the least.
In an effort to reduce the impacts of a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the winter, the fall semester will begin Aug. 10, which is eight days earlier than previously planned. Final exams will end Nov. 24, after which students will not return to campus until the spring semester.
In a memo to UNC System chancellors, interim President Bill Roper said universities can choose to begin the spring semester as late as Feb. 15, 2021.
In the past, the period between classes was 15 minutes. This period has been extended to 30 minutes to limit foot traffic on campus, which means classes will end later in the day. Carolina Together states that instruction will end at 6:10 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
First-year students will register for classes based on their orientation sessions.
According to UNC Student Affairs, orientation sessions 2 through 5 will register July 8-9, sessions 6 through 9 will register July 15-16, sessions 10 through 13 will register July 20-21 and sessions 14 and 15 will register July 27-28.
Both on- and off-campus instruction will be provided due to some students’ inability to come to campus in the fall.