University System of Maryland institutions will use a mixture of in-person and remote instruction during the fall semester, the school system announced on Friday.
Each of the organization’s 12 universities will announce their own plans for the fall semester within the next two weeks.
Those universities will follow guidelines developed by the Return to Campus Advisory Group to ensure that students, faculty and staff return to campus “in the safest and most practical way possible,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman.
“I’ve said many times that USM institutions are incredibly diverse. Having university-based leaders on this group who understand that diversity—who can drill down into the implications of what each return-to-campus decision means for each university—is essential to good planning,” Perman said of the advisory group he formed in April.
The system includes the University of Maryland and all its satellite campuses, as well as Towson University, University of Baltimore, Coppin State University, Bowie State University, Salisbury University and Frostburg State University.
While working within a general framework laid out by the advisory group, each institution will have the leeway to craft a plan tailored to its campus, based on school size, location, population and health conditions in their local jurisdiction.
Most students will begin the semester in mid-to-late August, but some may begin coursework as early as July.
Institutions may end in-person instruction by Thanksgiving or complete the term at the traditional time in mid-December.
Campus plans will include plans for teaching students on campus and remotely, protocol for if and how athletics will resume, and guidelines for campus events.
Universities are limiting room occupancy in campus housing to reduce density. Institutions are also modifying dining hall operations to maintain physical distancing, such as offering students grab-and-go meals.
All institutions in the system have postponed study abroad programs through the fall semester.
Universities will accommodate students, faculty and staff who are more vulnerable to coronavirus and those who choose not to return to campus.
USM Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden said the pandemic has presented obstacles to those in higher education, but institutions are working to offer “the best academic experience possible for our students” while maintaining health and safety.
“Chancellor Perman and the members of his advisory group understand the difficulty of these fall planning decisions. We know how important it is to best serve our students, faculty, and staff, with the highest emphasis on maintaining safety,” Gooden said.
