News & Events

Return to Campus: Vanderbilt Owen’s Plan for Spring 2021

Oct 7, 2020
Key elements include a confirmed commencement date of May 14 and, similar to the fall semester, a later start to the undergraduate semester and the elimination of spring break.

The following is a note from Dean M. Eric Johnson concerning Owen’s return to campus plan for the Spring of 2021.

Owen Community,

Earlier today, Vanderbilt published the plan for the spring semester (link here). Key elements include a confirmed commencement date of May 14 and, similar to the fall semester, a later start to the undergraduate semester and the elimination of spring break.

Owen will adapt to the University plan with the following changes to Mods 3 and 4:

  • We will begin on-campus instruction for mod 3 (day programs) on Tuesday, January 19.  We will celebrate and commemorate the Martin Luther King Holiday (Monday, January 18) across campus with remote activities.  For the first week of the Mod, classes will shift to Tuesday-Friday.
  • Mod 3 finals will be Monday, March 8 – Friday, March 12. Our Student Programs Team will be mindful of the finals schedule to allow time for mental health and rest.
  • There will be no spring break and students are asked to refrain from travel during the finals period.
  • Mod 4 will begin on Monday, March 15.
  • Mod 4 finals will take place Monday, May 3 – Friday, May 7.

So, we will start a week earlier than the undergraduate program with a compressed break between mods 1 &2.  The later start allows for more travel time over the winter break, but please reduce your COVID exposure before attending in-person classes on January 19.  Classes will continue to operate in a hybrid manner. Depending on the course and professor, students can expect a combination of in-person and remote course delivery.  A remote-only option will continue to be available to students.  In response to many requests and recommendations for the spring semester, the class schedule will be adjusted to accommodate a lunch hour.  We will retain the 30 minutes transition time between each class period.

Mods 3 and 4 Daily Schedule:

8:00 am – 9:30 am            Class Period

10:00 am – 11:30 am      Class Period

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm        Class Period

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm          Lunch

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm          Class Period

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm          Class Period

In-person experiences will continue to consider the safety of students, faculty, and staff as we operate the university in a pandemic.  You should continue to follow COVID-19 policies, procedures, and news at the Return to Campus Website as well as Owen’s CARE webpage. We are grateful for your commitment to the health and well-being of the community by taking personal responsibility for managing the spread of the virus.

We are all looking forward to an exciting spring semester back on campus.

Best,
Eric
M. Eric Johnson | Office of the Dean