The Fall Operational Group has been planning for how the University will operate in the fall, and has made some initial decisions regarding fall semester start dates and the academic calendar.

The Sewanee Fall Operational Group (Sewanee FOG) has been planning for how the University will operate in the fall. The initial decisions now have been made regarding fall semester start dates and the academic calendar. The focus on creating a learning environment that keeps our campus and local community healthy and safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while still delivering an exceptional and fulfilling academic experience, requires some changes to the original schedule for the semester.

The University intends to have on-campus instruction this fall. Assuming that is possible, both the College and the School of Theology will begin their classes earlier in August than previously anticipated, and both will complete classes before Thanksgiving. Final exams will take place remotely after Thanksgiving.

For the College:

Monday, Aug. 3: Finding Your Place (FYP) program begins for first-year students

Thursday, Aug. 13: Orientation begins for new students

Monday, Aug. 17: Classes begin

Wed.–Mon., Nov. 25–30: Thanksgiving break

Wed.–Tues., Dec. 2–8: Final exams (remote)

The College will not have the traditional four-day fall break, but will have two “respite days” to provide a break from coursework (Sept. 23 and Oct. 28). Students will not return to campus after the Thanksgiving break until the spring semester.

Some fall dates and programs are still under review and those plans will be announced soon, including dates for PRE, move-in, and athletic teams’ return for practice. Fall events like Family Weekend, Foundation Day Convocation, and Homecoming are still under consideration.

The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) has indicated its intention to hold athletic contests in the fall, although details of what the season will entail are still being determined.

For the School of Theology:

Friday, Aug. 14: Orientation begins for new students (in person and remote)

Monday, Aug. 24: First day of classes

Friday, Nov. 20: Last day of classes

Mon.–Fri., Nov. 30–Dec. 4: Final exams (remote)

The Reading Days previously scheduled on Sept. 29 and from Oct. 15–18 have been cancelled. The DuBose Lectures also have been cancelled for this fall.

Life on Campus

It is clear that life on the Sewanee campus this fall will be different. These adjustments to the academic calendar are made with the safety, health, and well-being of our campus community foremost in our minds. Plans for a safe reopening, and a safe semester, will require a regimen of screening, testing, tracing, masking, and social distancing as well as a shared commitment by everyone on campus to personal protective and risk-reducing behaviors.

The Fall Operational Group continues to develop plans for residence halls, dining services, and cleaning practices, in addition to the protocols for screenings and expectations for personal behavior.