CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Universities across the Carolinas are planning major changes to how they will reopen campuses this fall.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
UNC System Interim President Bill Roper expects every campus to reopen this fall.
Outgoing UNC Charlotte Chancellor Dr. Philip Dubois said classes will start two weeks later than normal to stave off a potential resurgence in cases in Charlotte.
"We're doing our best to try to manage, or balance, the need for an in-person experience, which is what we want them to have, with the need to keep them safe," Dr. Dubois said.
On Monday, UNCC announced the cancellation of their fall study aboard. They also cancelled in-person, on-campus summer camps for July and August.
North Carolina State University
NC State will begin its academic year on August 10, nine days earlier than originally scheduled. Students will skip the fall break in order to finish the semester before Thanksgiving. Students will not return to campus before the 2021 calendar year begins. Winter graduation plans have not yet been determined.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
UNC will begin its first day of classes on August 10 for undergrad students. Final exams will wrap up before Thanksgiving and students will not return to campus until 2021 at the soonest. Fall break has been eliminated from this semester's calendar.
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina announced students will return in-person to campus on August 20, but it will transition to remote learning after Thanksgiving. The university is also canceling its fall break on October 15-16 in order to hold more in-person classes before the November transition.
App State
Appalachian State in Boone hasn't yet announced specific changes to the Fall 2020 calendar, though the school expects it will be able to safely bring students back to campus.
Davidson College
Davidson College isn't making any decisions until they learn more about the effects of COVID-19. The college said it may not make any decisions until as late as July.
School leaders are looking at possibly later state dates in the fall and options for students who aren't able to return to campus.
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs expects to welcome students back to campus in the fall, and campus leaders said planning is underway to make sure students, faculty and staff are safe.