University System of Maryland plans hybrid instruction for Fall 2020 semester

BALTIMORE, Md. – University System of Maryland officials announced on Friday that they will welcome students back to campus this fall through a combination of in-person, on-campus and remote learning.

Over the next two weeks, each institution in the system will announce an overview of its initial planning for the fall semester. Each campus will identify specific decision points as they develop timelines for the start and end of the semester. For example, some student cohorts, such as those majoring in certain health professions, will begin the semester as early as July. However, most students will begin the semester in mid-to-late August. Some schools will end in-person instruction by Thanksgiving, while others may complete the term at the usual time depending on local health conditions.

We’re told that other decision points will include the number of residential students versus remote students at each institution, whether, when, and how athletics may resume, and guidelines on other campus events.

All institutions are taking steps to reduce the number of students in campus housing and decreasing room occupancy to the fullest extent possible. Most universities will prohibit or limit the use of community spaces in residences halls, such as kitchens and lounges. Food service options are being modified to lower density in dining halls and achieve physical distancing, including offering grab-and-go meals for students.

Some studio, laboratory, and clinical classes will be offered in person, but a certain number of lecture and other courses will be taught entirely online. Some sections of the same course could be taught both in-person and online, based on the school’s mix of residential versus remote students. There will be an emphasis on maintaining physical distance in labs and properly disinfecting them.

All schools in the University System of Maryland have made the decision to postpone study abroad programs through the fall semester.

Each school varies in student populations, size, type, and location, therefore each campus will have different considerations in determining how it may accomplish in-person instruction.