Cumberland University announced today that in response to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university will alter the academic calendar for the fall semester. 

The Cumberland Campus Reopening Planning (CROP) Team has been meeting regularly to make plans for opening the campus as safely as possible in August. In response to concerns including a potential second wave of infections in the late fall and early winter, and the risk of campus contamination due to travel, the university has revised the academic calendar for the fall semester. 

The fall semester will begin one week earlier than scheduled and will end before Thanksgiving, to prevent the risk of students, faculty and staff traveling for the holiday and returning to campus.  

With this plan, Labor Day and the fall break holidays have been cancelled and classes will be held on those days. Classes will begin on Mon., Aug. 17 and final exams will end on Wed., Nov. 25. 

“The Campus Reopening Planning (CROP) Team is working hard to ensure our return to campus will be as safe as possible,” said Cumberland University President Dr. Paul Stumb. “We appreciate the agility of our students, faculty and staff during this time of uncertainty and we look forward to having students back on campus in August.” 

For more information on Cumberland’s response to COVID-19, please visit cumberland.edu/coronavirus/.