Spring semester will start with virtual learning at UNC Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — The University of North Carolina at Charlotte announced on Friday that classes during the first two weeks of its spring semester will be held online.

In a release, the school said classes will begin as scheduled on Monday, Jan. 10, but that all undergraduate and graduate classes will be held virtually until Monday, Jan. 24.

“While we remain committed to providing our students an on-campus experience, we must do so as safely as possible,” school officials said. “By moving to virtual classes for two weeks, we hope to get past the holiday surge of the omicron variant, reduce the spread of the virus in our on-campus population and minimize disruptions to instruction.”

The university said offices will remain open during the two weeks to provide critical services, but supervisors are being asked to facilitate telework with employees between Jan. 4 and Jan. 24 to reduce the risk of community spread.

According to the school’s announcement, the 2-week delay of in-person classes will not change any other dates in the spring academic calendar.

“I don’t like it. I definitely would rather be in person, but like, if it’s in order to keep people safe, I can understand it,” student Acadia Dubiel said.

Students living in residence halls are strongly encouraged to delay their return to campus until at least Jan. 19, the school said. Faculty are being asked to accommodate the postponed move-in dates by not making assignments due or scheduling tests between Jan. 19 and Jan. 23.

“Supposedly it’s only going to be for a couple of weeks, are you worried it’s going to get stretched out?” Channel 9′s Glenn Counts asked a student at UNC Charlotte.

“Yeah, because I mean that’s what they told us in high school too, that it would only be like two weeks but it ended up lasting the rest of my junior year, so it’s hard,” Dyllian Talbert responded.

Students will still be required to have proof of a COVID vaccination, as well as a booster if eligible, or a negative reentry test before returning to campus.

The university said adjustments will be made to dining hall operations through Jan. 24, but services will continue to be offered.

UNCC men’s and women’s basketball games from Jan. 10 to Jan. 24 will be played without fans in attendance except for a limited number of athletes’ family members. Refund information will be communicated to ticket holders soon, the school said.

Johnson C. Smith University said no spectators will be allowed to attend sporting events on its campus until further notice. Family members of athletes will be allowed with proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the game.

Duke University also announced on Friday that spring semester classes will now remain remote until Jan. 18, instead of Jan. 10 as previously decided.

Johnson & Wales University announced classes will resume virtually for the spring semester. The university said it will transition to in-person classes on Jan. 24.

Officials at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill said that individual deans would make decisions on class flexibility within their schools. Classes are set to start Jan. 10.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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