Coronavirus Information: Fall Break

Getting It Done

We are now in our seventh week since move-in day. Since the bump in cases and quarantines that followed students’ return from the long Labor Day weekend, we have successfully flattened the curve. Looking ahead, if we want to keep the numbers low and preserve the on-campus experience for the entire semester, we must address the upcoming breaks and holidays.

“Power Through” Fall Break

For the health and safety of our Gardner-Webb community, Fall Break (October 19-20) has been cancelled. All classes scheduled for October 19 and 20 will be held, and we will power through the break. The decision follows consultation with campus leaders, including the Chair of the Faculty, SGA President, and department heads. Instructors may not individually opt out or move face-to-face classes online. Students who miss class on October 19-20 will have absences counted against their course total without opportunity to make up missed work. The only exceptions will be students in quarantine or isolation or those who can prove to their instructor’s satisfaction that they were absent due to COVID or other serious illness.

The University will also shift all face-to-face and hybrid courses online after the Thanksgiving break (November 25-27). Classes scheduled for November 30 through December 2 will therefore be online. No classes will be held in any format on December 3-4; instead, these will be designated Reading Days in preparation for exams.

Final exams will remain the week of December 7-11 but will shift to online using the same format that worked effectively this past Spring. Grades will be due December 12. A virtual Commencement will also be held on December 12.

Students will not be required to move out of residence halls as a result of these changes.  All residential facilities will remain open, and the cafeteria will continue serving meals without interruption.

Allowable Exceptions:  Graduate programs or professional programs for which these proposed calendar changes would provide undue hardship to students (e.g., missing clinical rotations or student teaching) may submit a formal written request to the Provost (by October 5) to maintain the current academic calendar.

Winter Sports:  Subject to NCAA guidance, athletic teams with scheduled competition and/or approved practices (e.g., men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming) will continue with those events as planned, presuming no COVID outbreaks that would justify any changes.

Finish Strong

Remember that if the previous six months have taught us anything it’s that we can’t relax or let down our guard.  It’s a straightforward equation:  face coverings + physical distancing + hand washing = How we get this done. Stay safe and healthy, Bulldogs!