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Summer Session Announcement

April 22, 2020

To Students, Faculty and Staff,
 
Thank you for all you are doing to cope with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am very proud of the way the campus has rallied in spite of the extreme restrictions we are experiencing. I write today to share plans on how we expect to deliver summer instruction and programs.
 
We have been monitoring state and federal guidance and seeking the advice of health experts in an effort to plan responsibly, for summer session.  I know everyone has been anxious to finalize summer instruction plans. It is difficult to guess what measures will continue to be required this summer to minimize exposure to COVID-19 among members of our community—but even if they are relaxed somewhat, it seems likely that many, such as social distancing and 50-person limits to gatherings will still need to be in place.  Both faculty and students have expressed concerns about resuming face-to-face instruction before everyone’s safety can be reasonably assured.  Therefore, we have decided, and I write today to announce, that we will deliver all Summer Session 1 2020 courses through remote or online instruction.
 
We expect that Summer Session 2 courses will also largely be delivered remotely, but if the pandemic abates as the expert modeler’s predict, we may be able to add some experiential/project-based and lab-based course sections to the Session 2 schedule. A group of extremely dedicated people has been working on Summer Session 2 contingency plans, in the event that state and federal restrictions ease in the upcoming months. There may also be an opportunity for selected experiential courses to be scheduled for a shorter period (perhaps 2-4 weeks in a special abbreviated summer term) toward the end of the summer, if in-person instruction becomes possible.  We will announce a decision on Summer Session 2 in-person courses on or before June 15.  We are also working with multiple groups across campus to determine how we should deliver courses in the Fall 2020 semester.  We intend to announce a decision regarding Fall programs by June 15 as well.
 
Summer Session 1 in-person camps, and other on-campus activities that follow the summer session I schedule are hereby cancelled.  If health and safety guidance permit, and only with approval from the appropriate university officers, some in-person activities may be available during Summer Session 2.  Recall that we have already cancelled summer study abroad programs and arranged for new student orientation to take place entirely online.
 
Departments will contact registered students whose current course registration might be affected by the change to online instruction. Units will also post information if additional course offerings in Summer Session 2 become available.
 
The default grading method for summer courses will revert to the regular (A-F) grading system, unless the Pass-Fail (S/F for graduate courses) or Audit options are available and selected for a specific course per our regular campus grading options.
 
I’m sure we are all longing to resume our normal academic operations as soon as possible, but I am hopeful that making the decision to transition summer courses to remote instruction now will help instructors and students plan ahead for adopting effective online teaching and learning strategies.  Above all, we have an obligation to the health and safety of our community.  Thank you again for all you are doing and please stay well.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mary Ann Rankin
Senior Vice President and Provost
 
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The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

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Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 300 degree-granting programs, many of them ranked among the best in the country. Our faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. And our students, who include the highest achievers in the state and nation, enjoy experiences unique to our location just outside the nation’s capital, including internships, research, and leadership and service opportunities.

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The University of Maryland is one of the world’s premier research institutions. With our strategic location and scores of partnerships with government and businesses, UMD conducts groundbreaking research on some of the biggest challenges facing our global community, including cybersecurity and terrorism, bioengineering, public health equity, food safety and climate change. We strive to discover new knowledge and put it to work through innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing economic development and transforming lives. 

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At the University of Maryland, the arts, the humanities and the sciences intersect to address important societal issues and shed new light on the human experience. Our vibrant campus arts community collaborates with local and national cultural organizations such as the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center and Folger Shakespeare Library. Student and faculty artists, designers, historians, writers and performers are exploring new media, presenting new perspectives, investigating new techniques and engaging new audiences.

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The Terp experience extends beyond classrooms, labs and studios. It encompasses residence halls and dining halls, clubs and sports, fraternities and sororities, campus events and performances, and countless off-campus destinations. Maryland touts 800-plus student organizations, dozens of prestigious living and learning communities, and countless other ways to get involved. Students here can create a unique identity and grow as individuals, even as they’re part of a close-knit and diverse community. 

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