DeKALB —  Spring semester classes will be taught in-person, online or a combination of both methods of instruction this academic year and will end one week early, according to a Thursday email from Beth Ingram, executive vice president and provost. 

There will be no spring break this semester and, instead, the university will offer students, faculty and staff a three-day weekend beginning March 12, and one additional non-instructural closure day, according to the email. 

The university approved to adjust the Spring 2021 calendar at a Wednesday University Council meeting. Final exams will be held on April 24 and April 26 through April 30, according to the email. 

Students will be able to find more information on their spring courses beginning Oct. 15 on MyNIU and course registration begins the first week of November. 

December Commencement 

The in-person commencement ceremony for December is also canceled and will be moved to the virtual ceremonies celebrating May, August and December 2020 graduates this fall, according to the email. More information regarding the virtual ceremonies will be emailed to eligible graduates by Oct. 16.

“While it’s likely that you expected this news, I recognize that it’s still heartbreaking for our graduates and their families,” the statement reads. “Even though the pandemic has stolen many important milestones from us, nothing can change the fact that through hard work, talent and perseverance, our graduates will have earned degrees from NIU and be able to begin their new paths forward.” 

Housing

For the spring semester, students living on-campus will be required to schedule move-in times and provide negative COVID-19 test results, similar to the process they followed in the fall semester, according to the email. 

“The university is working now to develop an efficient testing process for students to complete these requirements and will provide more information to residential students in mid-November,” the statement reads. “We will also continue to only offer single rooms for the spring semester.”