With vaccination numbers on the rise, IU Provost Lauren Robel announced on April 14 that for the Fall of 2021 semester, there would in fact be an extra day off for fall break.
Now scheduled for October 8th, fall break had been canceled initially when President Michael McRobbie announced plans for the university to return to “mostly normal operations” for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.
According to IU Spokesman Chuck Carney, Robel was encouraged not only by vaccination numbers, but by the University’s handling of COVID-19 overall.
“The fact that we’ve been able to keep it under control largely on our campuses because of our testing regimens that we’ve had, that made the biggest difference,” Carney said. “And the fact that the students followed the protocols for the most part.”
IU spokesman Chuck Carney discusses IU’s COVID 19 response, the decision to return to in-person classes in the fall and what “mostly normal” will look like on campus
In large part however, the decision was driven by vaccines, with Carney noting that Robel had reason to believe that at least in Bloomington, nearly all students would be vaccinated by August.
It was welcome news for students unhappy with the initial decision to cancel fall break when the original announcement came out back in February. Even students who would be alumni next August took umbridge with the decision.
IU senior Sam Meyer was initially concerned for friends who would be at IU next year, knowing how palpable burnout was from his own personal experience.
“We have people who are living in fear, who are constantly trying to take care of themselves and not get sick,” said Meyer. “On top of that you don’t get any time to rest. So you’re locked inside by yourself, secluded. You’re struggling mentally and we’re gonna dump all the school work on top.”
When word came that fall break would return, along with a full week for Thanksgiving breand and spring break, Meyer had one thing to say.
“Good. I’m thrilled.”
IU Students talk about a year without any breaks, wellness days, and the return to in-person classes and full breaks
Carney noted as well that the pandemic was still far from over, and that changes to the schedule and in-person classes could not totally be ruled out yet, dependent on the public health scene at the end of the summer.
It is likely that even if things go according to plan and COVID numbers remain low on campus, things like hand sanitization stations, free masks and even mitigation testing will remain active.
“We’re encouraging students to get vaccinated right now,” Carney said. “We’re obviously encouraging students to continue follow the health and safety protocols that they need to follow. As long as they continue to do that then we can continue to be on the right trajectory to have all of our breaks as we have had before.”
Vaccines are on reserve and available for students, staff and faculty at Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall for the remainder of the school year.
