Planning for Fall 2021

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!

Students Required to Get COVID-19 Vaccine for Fall Return

All Washington University students on the Danforth and Medical Campuses will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the Fall 2021 semester.  In order to allow the university enough time to prepare for any vaccination clinics that may be needed at the start of the semester, we are asking all students to provide documentation to verify that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by no later than July 15. To provide documentation, upload an image of your COVID-19 vaccination record card in your student health portal by visiting the Habif Health and Wellness Center website and clicking on the link for “Log in to the student portal.”

Learn More

Request to Study Remotely

It is our hope and expectation that undergraduate students will participate in the 2021-2022 academic year in person from St. Louis; however, we understand that some of the circumstances which necessitated remote participation in the past academic year may persist into the Fall.

Criteria for Studying Remotely and Process for Requesting an Exception

For the upcoming Fall 2021 semester, based on public health guidance and restrictions, students may request the opportunity to participate remotely if they meet one of the following circumstances:

  1. Students may request consideration to study remotely based on a disability or health concern by contacting Disability Resources.
  2. Students may request based on health consideration of a dependent or immediate family member.
  3. Students may request based on international travel restriction or inability to obtain a vista to enter the United States.

Students are strongly encouraged to submit their requests by July 15, 2021.

Priorities and Guiding Principles for Fall 2021

Our decisions continue to be informed by these foundational pillars:

  • The safety, security and well-being of all people
  • Commitment to our mission in support of education, research and patient care to improve lives in service of the greater good
  • Our role as a strong community partner in the St. Louis region
  •  Uplifting the values of diversity, equity and inclusion 
  • Accountability and transparency
  • Careful stewardship and sustainability of the university’s resources

To learn more about the current campus public health requirements, please review the Danforth Campus Plan for Fall 2021.