On Tuesday, September 6, 2020, Chowan University’s Provost, Dr. Danny Moore released the revised Spring 2021 Academic Calendar along with the announcement that the in-person Commencement for the Class of 2020 has been postponed a second time to May 2021. 

There are several major alterations to the 2021 spring semester. Classes will now reconvene on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. In an effort to maintain the course for a prompt dismissal in May and prevent even further spread of COVID-19, the university’s spring break has been indefinitely canceled. Continuing with this initiative, Chowan will be open and classes will meet on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Classes are set to end on Wednesday, April 28 with final exams beginning Friday, April 30, and lasting through Tuesday, May 4. 

The difficult decision to further alter the Class of 2020’s in-person graduation stemmed from the outlook of the viability for larger, in-person events. Dr. Moore shared that “Chowan had planned to host commencement in December for May 2020 graduates. However, the university has decided to postpone commencement because the state of North Carolina remains in Safer at Home Phase 2.5, which prohibits more than 50 people to gather in one place [outdoors].”

Wanting to properly recognize Chowan’s class of 2020, the university maintains its plans to hold their delayed in-person Commencement ceremony, now set for Saturday, May 8, 2021. The following day, Sunday, May 9, will be a second commencement ceremony honoring Chowan University’s current seniors, the Class of 2021. Although revisions and postponements remain the themes for daily lives, Chowan University continues to look forward with faith in our future.

The full spring 2021 academic calendar can be found here.