Last Updated: June 18, 2020

Dear UE Community,

I am excited to announce that classes this fall will begin with face-to-face instruction on Monday, August 17. Social distancing and protective measures will be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and employees.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and exposure to our campus community, the fall semester, including final exams, will end prior to Thanksgiving Break. Students will not return to campus until January for the spring 2021 semester. While fall classes were originally scheduled to begin August 26, the schedule has been moved up with approval from the United States Department of Education to accommodate for a shortened semester that advances the public health of our students, faculty, staff, and our Evansville community. In addition to the semester ending early, the University will be eliminating any extended breaks, such as fall break, to help reduce travel and allow for the ability to end the semester early. At this time, we anticipate the spring 2021 semester will operate on a regular semester calendar, but may need to be altered if any campus conditions change. A full 2020 - 2021 academic calendar is available online at www.evansville.edu/coronavirus/academics.cfm.

We will move forward with reopening plans following guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our campus-based COVID-19 Healthcare Task Force. Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University is prepared to adjust plans at any point throughout the remainder of the year.

To prepare for the return of students, the University will use the summer months to establish detailed plans and provide communication for our entire campus community for the following:

• Employees and students will be required to wear masks or face coverings while on campus and inside buildings and within close proximity to others. All students and employees will be provided with a mask or face covering when they return in August. Signage will be posted throughout the campus to educate on proper social distancing and safety precautions.
• A phased move-in approach will be implemented for moving into residence halls. New students will move in August 11-12 and returning students will move in August 14-16. Students will register for a designated 3-hour move-in time to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Welcome week is scheduled for August 13 through August 16. With an earlier start date, the University will be flexible with students to help accommodate move-in. Further details are forthcoming.
• Changes will be made to living arrangements in residence halls to lower the risk of exposure between students. UE will be reducing the number of rooms utilized on each floor, and residence halls will be frequently cleaned and sanitized. Housing assignments for students will be confirmed and communicated to students in July. Additional changes regarding visitation policies and lounge areas may be announced at a later date.
• There will be adjustments to food service and seating to follow recommended practices for community dining. UE will encourage carry-out options and increase the use of sustainable, disposable products. Self-service stations will be eliminated, and protective barriers will be installed at all points of service. All food service lines will be clearly marked for proper social distancing.
• Classrooms and learning environments will be given new layouts to promote social distancing. Faculty may develop plans for specific classes or offer hybrid courses to further these efforts.

Through these reopening guidelines, UE is committed to the health and safety of each member of our campus community. While our semester will be different when you return, we are looking forward to welcoming you back — or welcoming you for the first time — for a new semester of classes and campus activities.

For more information about reopening guidelines, please visit www.evansville.edu/coronavirus. This section of the website is the best resource for additional detail and ongoing updates. Until you return to the UE campus in the Fall, we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer.

Sincerely,

Christopher M Pietruszkiewicz
President
University of Evansville