NDMU Announces Spring 2021 Plans

As we look ahead to the University’s spring semester, we wanted to inform you of the University’s latest planning. The University’s COVID-19 Steering Committee and various workgroups have been hard at work putting in place a comprehensive plan for the spring semester. Please know that our plans are continually evolving based on guidance from federal, state, and local health officials, and constant monitoring of on the ground metrics in Baltimore, Maryland, and across the county.

You will find below the basic planning for each student group. While we are still in the process of updating NDMU Together to reflect updates for spring, we wanted you to have information as soon as possible for your planning purposes.

Spring Semester

Women’s College

We are planning to offer nearly all Women’s College courses face-to-face. Courses will take place in classroom and lab settings large enough for all students to attend in person while maintaining required social distancing. If this is not possible in some limited situations, courses will proceed in a hybrid format whereby instructors will teach ½ of students face-to-face and ½ synchronously (real-time) via remote learning. The groups would then switch for the next course session. Students who are unable to attend courses physically due to a health condition or other personal reasons will have the option of synchronous remote learning. Students will be able to participate in classroom discussions and ask questions in real-time.

In some limited instances, students may also have a course that will be taught solely via synchronous remote instruction. This is not an “online” class which is often delivered asynchronously (not real-time), but rather one delivered on a routine date and time, and in real-time to all students. The option of synchronous remote learning may not be available for some required lab courses. These required lab courses will be face-to-face.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

On-campus ASBN courses will proceed with all courses offered face-to-face. Courses may have similar flexibility as described above in the Women’s College section except labs will require face-to-face instruction. Elkridge students will continue to proceed in a hybrid format.

Adult Undergraduate & Graduate Programs

Courses for our College of Adult Undergraduate Studies and College of Graduate and Professional Studies populations will continue to be offered via synchronous (real-time) remote learning.

School of Pharmacy (SOP)

SOP will proceed similar to the fall semester with required labs occurring face-to-face and most other coursework proceeding via synchronous (real-time) remote learning. Additional details and information regarding course-specific modalities will be forthcoming from SOP.

NDMU Online

Courses for NDMU Online programs will proceed without changes.

Experiential Education

Clinicals, practicums, and student teaching internship experiences required as a part of a professional program’s curricula will continue in accordance with each Schools’ and host site’s customized procedures and protocols. In-person experiences will adhere to strict safety precautions. Additional information will be forthcoming from the respective Dean’s offices.

Semester and short-term study abroad, as well as in-person service learning, volunteer service, and internships, will remain suspended for the spring semester.

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Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar for the spring semester has been revised. Classes will be in session until 12:00pm on Good Friday (April 2) and in full session on Easter Monday (April 5). Classes will also be in session during what would traditionally be spring break. Please visit the Academic Calendar for specific start and end dates and other information.

Residence Halls

The residence halls will be open for the spring semester but will continue in a reduced, single-occupant per room, capacity with strict adherence to health and safety guidelines. The residence halls will be available to all students but capacity may be limited. Additional information on spring room and board registration will be forthcoming from the Office of Residence Life.

Testing & Quarantine

Please know that similar to the fall semester, all students arriving or returning to campus for the spring semester will be required to submit a negative viral COVID-19 test result prior to their entry on campus.

[Revised: November 10, 2020] For in-state/Maryland students, the test must have been administered within 7 days prior to scheduled return on campus. For example, a student scheduled to return to campus on January 25, 2021, must have been tested and received their results between January 18, 2021 and January 24, 2021.

[Revised: November 10, 2020] For out-of-state/non-Maryland students, tests should occur within 72 hours before travel to Maryland or promptly upon arrival to Maryland. Out-of-state residents waiting for their test results should self-quarantine at home between the time of their test and their arrival in Maryland or self-quarantine at an off-campus location in Maryland.

Per CDC guidance, any student arriving or returning to campus from abroad must self-quarantine for fourteen (14) days before entering campus for the spring semester.

Even with a negative viral test, all residential students are strongly recommended to quarantine for fourteen (14) days prior to their return to campus.

All residential students will be required to undergo a second round of University administered viral COVID-19 testing (free of charge) during their week of arrival.

All students, faculty, and staff coming to campus on a routine/regular basis in the spring semester will be entered into the University’s testing surveillance pool and may be selected at random to be tested (free of charge) throughout the spring semester. Additional information on surveillance testing is available at the University’s Testing FAQ.

Athletics

As you may know, all Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) schools’ athletic programs were suspended through December 31, 2020. The CSAC Board of Directors will be reconvening in late November to evaluate athletics return for the spring semester.