Pictured Above: Provost Ralph Wilcox announced classes are expected to return to in-person come summer and fall.
Courtesy of USF
By Sophie Ojdanic
USF expects to return to fully in-person classes in fall 2021, according to documents presented to the university’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee by Provost Ralph Wilcox on Jan. 13.
The university’s “Guidelines for Planning Summer and Fall Class Schedules in 2021” said USF “is preparing to significantly increase the number of on-campus classes and activities in Summer 2021, especially during Session B,” and “is planning for a full return to on-campus classroom delivery and activities beginning Fall 2021.”
Summer session B is scheduled to start on June 28.
Despite this choice, classroom seat availability is still expected to be limited for social distancing in the summer.
“On-campus class priority will be set for freshmen entering USF in… Spring/Summer/Fall 2021,” according to the document.
The plans are subject to change as public health conditions change, however, according to the document.
During the committee meeting, Wilcox stressed that “the important word there is preparing and planning.”
Wilcox called the guidelines a “pretty optimistic planning scenario” which gives the university the option “to adjust, should the scientific evidence suggest that we’re just not ready to fully repopulate the University of South Florida campuses.”
Students should have access to the summer class schedule on or before Jan. 25, and to the fall class schedule on or before Feb. 15.
The document closed with a familiar statement: “At all times, instructors must be prepared to transition to quality online delivery should it be necessary.”
