We know many of you are eagerly thinking about the upcoming academic year and our plans for fall semester. At this point, we are planning to resume most of our on-campus activities for fall! The university’s public health experts have advised all schools that our planned direction is for classroom experiences — from large lectures to small seminars and labs — to return to full capacity. Although this is heartening news, we recognize that guidance may continue to change and classroom densities will ultimately depend on the conditions in our community as we approach the fall semester.
We currently intend for all Fall 2021 courses in Arts & Sciences to have in-person learning components. In some cases, those components may be less frequent (e.g., once per week), smaller in size, or of a different format — but we remain committed to creating a rich, engaging, on-campus academic experience for students and faculty. As of June 25, your instructors updated Course Listings with more specific information about individual courses and expectations for in-person class meetings.
Given that COVID-19 remains present in St. Louis and on our campus, we need to continue with masking, self-screening, and attention to personal safety and hygiene measures. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will let science and safety be our guides, and therefore our plans for next semester may change if conditions shift.
We look forward to seeing you!