UConn Releases Updates On Fall Semester Reopening

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut officials Wednesday released an update on rules for beginning the fall semester.

The update followed a pledge made by UConn officials earlier this year that a final decision about returning for the fall semester would be made before July 1. The University posted its draft reopening plans online and then discussed them with the UConn Board of Trustees.

Here is the transcript of the message shared Wednesday:

This message serves as official confirmation that UConn will reopen in the fall as planned, with courses being offered in person, online, or as a hybrid of the two. In keeping with state guidelines and gating conditions, very significant safety protocols and modifications will be implemented to help support the health of our community.

Please note that as new information becomes available, we will be in contact again and will update the University’s reopening website.

For all students: On Monday, you received a message from the Registrar indicating that we have begun the process of finalizing class schedules and re-registration where needed. This will be completed by late July. An FAQ on this process is available. While we will have more online courses than in a typical semester to balance safety and accommodate reduced classroom density, we are seeking to provide as many in-person classroom and out-of-classroom co-curricular experiences as possible.

Residential students: On Monday, new information regarding housing assignments, the residential calendar, and the quarantine period were posted here. Please also note that housing assignments will be completed no later than Aug. 1, and move-in will begin on Aug. 14. We will communicate directly with students on each of these issues.

Instructional updates for faculty and graduate student instructors: We have been focusing our efforts on matching teaching preferences, availability of instructional spaces, and undergraduate student preferences for the fall semester. We are making good progress in meeting our goal of ensuring a rigorous UConn education for our students while balancing safety for everyone. We have now begun the process of finalizing class schedules for students.

Faculty and staff telecommuting/onsite work: Reducing population density on campus while still fulfilling our mission is a key goal for the fall semester. There are a number of faculty and staff who need to be physically on campus to carry out their primary work of teaching, research, supporting students and facilities, and related activities, while others do not. Most employees who have been telecommuting since the spring should plan to continue to do so for the duration of the summer and during the fall semester 1) unless otherwise instructed by their supervisor to return to campus, with at least two weeks’ notice where possible; and 2) only when the employee’s primary functions are directly student-facing (exceptions will apply and may be authorized). Throughout the rest of the summer, we continue to ask you to avoid coming to campus wherever possible to limit population density. If you need to come to campus, you should contact your manager, department head and/or dean. Human Resources will distribute protocols next week to address managers’ and divisional requirements regarding telecommuting continuation and return to work procedures.

Testing: All residential students must be tested upon returning to the Storrs and Stamford campuses two weeks before the first day of classes. The University is currently evaluating testing needs and potential protocols for faculty, staff, and commuter students, and no final determination has been made. The University is relying on guidance from Connecticut state government, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health and infectious disease experts. Once a decision with respect to testing has been made for faculty, staff and commuter students, the University will announce it.

Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility during this unusual time. More communications will be forthcoming.