University of Missouri System decides on a start date for the fall semester

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri System has landed on an official fall start date.

Students will begin classes on the system's four campuses Aug. 24, the UM System announced Wednesday.

"We will continue to monitor the pandemic situation closely and be ready to make any adjustments, which could including moving to remote instruction or other models for delivering instruction should that become necessary," Mun Choi, UM System president and interim MU chancellor, said in a statement.

The statement was released after a meeting of the UM Board of Curators which included an academic calendar discussion.

MU Faculty Council members voted Thursday against a plan to start the fall semester earlier than normal because of COVID-19. The plan would have started classes Aug. 12 and ended them Nov. 20.

After voting down the early start the faculty council suggested switching to an online format after Thanksgiving break if warranted.

Choi said Wednesday that the decision made by the staff was important for the well-being of students, as starting and ending the semester early would cut internships and clinical work short.

"There are reasons why we don't want to make those changes now," Choi said. "Partly, it's for us to evaluate how the pandemic subsides or, perhaps, resurges in the fall term and to decide whether we need to go completely though e-learning after Thanksgiving."

During Wednesday's meeting, Choi said he hopes classes do not have to go fully online because of the revenue that having students on campus brings to the university.

Choi said that campus dining and residence halls bring in about $3 million to the school each week.

The university said students returning to campus in the fall should expect changes, including new practices for personal health and social distancing.