Planning for Fall 2020

Current students, staff and faculty, and admitted students are asking important questions about the nature of coursework during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Much of our approach to the 2020-2021 school year will be dictated by the COVID-19 virus and by guidelines from government and health agencies. The safety of students, faculty, and staff will be the most important factor in our decisions.

Because Macalester excels at providing a liberal arts education that is personal and residential in its design, at this time we know that:

• Our strong preference is to complete two full semesters of on-campus instruction in the 2020-2021 school year.

• If necessary, we will adjust our academic calendar to achieve two full semesters of on-campus instruction. Discussions thus far indicate that the fall semester could begin as late as November and still leave enough time to complete the entire academic year. We prefer this calendar-shifting approach to other options such as a combination of remote and on-campus instruction.

• Only if it becomes necessary and unavoidable will we consider a semester, or partial semester, of remote, online learning. This is our last, and least preferable, option. We will think creatively about how to minimize the use of this option.

Recognizing that students, families, and faculty need sufficient time to adapt to ever-changing conditions and make plans, we hope to make decisions about the 2020-2021 academic year by June 1.

Our goal is to make decisions as quickly as possible, with as much information as possible, and with the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students top of mind. We will do all we can to expedite the decision-making process, communicate decisions, and be flexible to changing needs.

For our admitted students:
We encourage students and families with specific questions to connect with your Admissions Counselor by contacting [email protected].

Brian Rosenberg, President
Karine Moe, Provost