For the most up-to-date information on WKU’s response to COVID-19, visit wku.edu/healthyonthehill.

Big Red Restart Calendar

The academic calendar for the fall 2020 semester was developed to support a robust, on-time restart of the WKU experience including on-campus living and face-to-face courses. The calendar was modified to mitigate the anticipated flare-up of COVID-19 cases consistent with the yearly return of cold and flu season. Observing Fall Break, as well as Labor Day, during the Thanksgiving week and moving to remote delivery for the last two weeks of the semester serves three purposes:

allows the maximum number of in-person class meeting periods prior to cold and flu season
mitigates community spread as a function of personal travel
allows faculty ample time to plan for a successful student learning experience and final assessment.

Considering the unusual circumstances in which we are currently living, we believe this academic calendar is the safest course of action to reopen WKU with face-to-face interaction for our entire community.

Date	Action	Notes/Key Considerations
June/July	Faculty and staff begin transitioning back to campus.	Kentucky’s Healthy at Work requirements Health self-assessments for employees working on campus
June/July	Environmental Health and Safety and Facilities Management prepares for on-campus activities to resume.	Implementing plans to meet Healthy at Work requirements for physical barriers and room occupancy levels across campus, including classrooms, public facing offices and campus retail operations COVID-19 safety educational campaigns for the campus communities created
June/July/August	If guidance from applicable state agencies and national associations allows, a limited number of students may return to campus (as approved by the appropriate divisional leader) for specific academic functions or athletic training.	Specific requests for students’ return to campus for academic inquiry/research purposes submitted to the Office of the Provost for approval Additional information regarding the return of student athletes available on page 21 Opening of limited residence and dining halls to support returning students only
July	Select public offices and campus retail operations open for business.
August 17	M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan Move-In begins
August 18	M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan begins	Session sizes reduced
August 22	All other move-in begins
August 24	Fall 2020 classes begin
September 7	Labor Day - will be used as an instructional day.
October 1-2	Scheduled Fall Break - will become instructional time. Fall Break will be observed Monday and Tuesday, November 23-24.
November 3	Election Day - as scheduled, no classes will be held.
November 20	Last day of in-person instruction
November 23-24	Fall Break - no classes, university closed
November 25-27	Thanksgiving Holiday - no classes, university closed
November 30	Classes resume via remote learning. No in-person instruction or assessment for the remainder of the semester. Exceptions to be approved by department heads and deans.	Residence halls and select dining facilities remain open December recognition ceremonies postponed to be held with spring 2021 commencement celebrations.
December 7-11	Final examinations	Conducted remotely

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