With the coronavirus pandemic remaining as a public health concern and Ashland County’s recent upgrade to the level three ranking, Ashland University is taking steps of caution to keep its faculty, staff and students safe; starting with removing spring break from the 2021 academic calendar. 

On Friday, Oct. 9, the AU Public Relations department sent an email to students updating them on the changes to the spring semester. These changes included an extension of the normal winter break for students in place of a spring break, likely due to the peak of flu season and the uncertainty surrounding COVID this winter.

This schedule change means students will not return to campus until after Martin Luther King Jr. day and classes will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19 2021. 

Students will still receive a smaller break from classes in the form of flex days that have been inserted in the schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 16 and Wednesday, March 10.

According to the PR department, “these days are set aside for professional development, online or review activities, and/or to allow for open lab and classroom access for students or completion of make-up work.”

Students are advised to note however that while these are not class days, some professors and instructors will assign online work to be completed on these days. 

As far as the rest of the spring calendar, Easter break is still scheduled for April 1-5 and final exams will be May 3-6. Commencement will follow after exam week. 

Due to COVID guidelines, students are advised to follow the same rules as this semester such as staying home when sick and wearing a mask.