Texas A&M Announces Changes To Spring Semester Calendar

Texas A&M University announced changes to its spring semester schedule for its College Station and Galveston campuses, which include reducing spring break from the usual five days to one. Provost and Executive Vice President Carol A. Fierke said the changes will allow the university to address issues critical to the provision of services as safely as possible.

The updated spring schedule was announced by Fierke in an email to campus Thursday in which she noted that Texas A&M has reached the midpoint of the fall semester.

“I want to thank and congratulate our staff, students, and faculty for their outstanding work in this very unusual year,” she said. “I recognize that the adjustments we made have challenged us in ways we never imagined. Please know that I am grateful to be able to work with you to meet our mission of providing our students the best education as safely as possible.”

Spring Schedule

The spring semester will start on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, as scheduled. The semester will end earlier, with the last day of classes on Thursday, April 29, 2021 and the last day of finals on Friday, May 7, 2021.

These changes reflect the following:

• The reduction of spring break from one full week to one day, Friday, March 19, 2021, to minimize extensive travel and allow the semester to conclude earlier for additional commencements;
• Additional time needed in May to conduct planned in-person commencement ceremonies over a two-week period, May 8-21, 2021, with safety and appropriate physical distancing in place;
• An additional day needed for final exams because of increased asynchronous remote delivery;
• The addition of a one-day break for Texas Independence Day on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 around midterms while keeping the Friday, April 2, 2021 reading day;
• The previously scheduled staff holidays on March 17-18, 2021 are changed to Wednesday, December 23, 2020 and Friday, May 28, 2021;
• March 19, 2021 will remain a staff holiday.

The full academic calendar for the spring semester has been updated and posted on the Office of the Registrar website.

Fierke said at this time, departments are finalizing spring course offerings, and registration will begin as scheduled on Nov. 5.

Similar to fall 2020, the spring schedule will have the goal of offering 50 percent of total course sections and 50 percent of undergraduate semester credit hours taught face-to-face.

“Our goal is provide undergraduate students with at least two face-to-face classes,” Fierke said. “One new option we are providing is for some course sections to be offered only face-to-face, although those courses must either be an elective or also have a section of the course offered remotely.”

Passing periods will remain the same and the face covering policy will remain in effect.

“As always, I encourage you to continue to physical distance, wash your hands frequently, wear face coverings, and stay home if you are feeling ill,” Fierke said, thanking campus members for all they’ve done to ensure safe operations.