Provost and Executive Vice President for the Division of Academic Affairs Suzanne Austin shared the following message with the campus community on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, regarding the academic calendar for the spring 2021 semester: 

Dear College of Charleston Community:

This fall semester has provided all of us with some unique challenges, and I am grateful to all of you who are working so diligently, patiently, and selflessly to ensure a successful term. We have learned much over the past 8 months, and through listening and considering the feedback from both students and faculty members about their instructional experiences, we intend to reinforce what is working and adjust what needs improvement. Therefore, with the goal of maintaining the health and safety of our community while sustaining an uninterrupted learning experience, we have made some adjustments to the spring 2021 academic calendar effective immediately (see amended version here: https://registrar.cofc.edu/calendars/ac-2021spring.php).

To minimize the health risk to our community due to travel-related transmission, spring break has been canceled and replaced by 2 days for on-campus review and study: Tuesday, March 2 and Thursday, March 4.  These designated days will provide a needed break from the regular schedule of instruction for students and faculty.

Residential students will move back to campus by appointment after January 6, and classes will begin on Monday, January 11. The last day of classes will be Wednesday, April 21, with final exams to follow beginning on Friday, April 23, and ending on Friday, April 30.

A summary of key dates for the updated Spring 2021 academic calendar:

  • Monday, January 11: Classes begin
  • Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (national holiday: no classes)
  • Tuesday, March 2: Review and Study Day: no classes
  • Thursday, March 4: Review and Study Day: no classes
  • Wednesday, April 21: Last day of full semester classes
  • Friday, April, 23 – Friday, April 30: Final exams

We recognize that removing the weeklong spring break in March may be both an inconvenience and disappointment for some, but this decision carefully weighs what we have all learned over the past 8 months, with the goal of keeping our college community as safe as possible while reinforcing instructional continuity. We appreciate your understanding, support and continued collaboration as we continue to work together to overcome the challenges that still lie ahead.

We also will keep you updated of all developments as they emerge, but in the meantime please let us know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely yours,

Suzanne

Suzanne Austin
Provost and Executive Vice President
Division of Academic Affairs