ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA—Winthrop University President George Hynd announced today that with the health and safety of students and the campus community its highest priority, Winthrop’s fall semester will begin online Aug. 24 with delayed in-person instruction until Sept. 8. No other changes to the academic calendar will be made at this time.
“After a great deal of consideration of the available data regarding COVID-19 infection rates and for the health concerns and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, we have made the difficult decision to begin our fall semester remotely,” Hynd said. “This is a two-week delay of in-person classes, but it is necessary for the protection of our students. We strongly feel this decision to begin our academic year remotely is the right decision.”
Hynd noted that Winthrop remains committed to on-campus learning and living this fall despite the global health threat of COVID-19. “Our decision-making continues to be based on science, the advice of public health experts, and what we are learning everyday about the virus’ spread in the region,” he said. “With 90 percent of Winthrop students from South Carolina, we have an obligation to follow the data in our state.”
Hynd noted that, according to S.C. DHEC data, only six of the 46 counties in South Carolina have not shown a significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks. The national and international attention COVID-19 infection rates in South Carolina have generated has increased anxiety among students and parents about returning to campus.
“As the infection rate in South Carolina has risen, we have increasingly heard from concerned students and parents expressing uncertainty over coming back to campus and living in our residence halls,” Hynd said.
Revised residence hall move-in dates and reduced housing and dining fees are being developed, and additional information will be forthcoming from the Division of Student Affairs.
It is important to note that that delaying in-person instruction may be revisited again as university officials continue to follow the reported impact of recommended statewide health precautions in the coming month.
Read Dr. Hynd’s full message to the Winthrop community here.
More information on Winthrop’s plans for the fall semester will be found on the Return to Learn website which will launch in the coming days.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
