Now that we’ve passed the midway point of the fall semester, it’s time to announce plans for the spring semester.

Like everyone, I was hopeful that only the fall semester would be impacted by the pandemic, but it’s clear we will need to stay vigilant through the spring. Once again, that requires an alteration to the academic calendar.

I want to thank the Faculty Senate, which approves the academic calendar, for their willingness to be flexible in extraordinary times.

Originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19, the first day of class will now be Monday, Jan. 25. Unlike this fall, the semester will continue to the end (May 7) with in-person classes, with final exams the following week and Commencement Weekend set for May 14-16. (Online graduate students will still begin classes Jan. 18.)

Because of the need to control travel again to mitigate the spread of the virus, spring break needed to be eliminated. However, five class-free weekdays have been scheduled throughout the semester: Feb. 18, March 10, April 2 (Good Friday), April 13 and April 28.

International students from CDC-defined Level 2 and 3 countries and students from states on New York’s mandatory quarantine list will once again be required to quarantine on campus or in New York state for two weeks before the semester starts. The designated quarantine window for residential students is Jan. 9 through Jan. 22, with students who need to quarantine returning on Jan. 8.

Move-in dates for returning students coming from all other states will be Jan. 23-24. As was the case with fall move-in, designated arrival times will be assigned; details will be announced over the holiday break.

Students will also be required to submit another negative PCR test result no more than 14 days before their arrival to campus.

I know this isn’t what any of you envisioned your college experience would be like, but I need to reiterate what I said last week at the midpoint of the semester: This Bonaventure experience is so much better than what students at many colleges are going through.

We’ve been able to teach the vast majority of classes in person. We’ve been able to offer a normal dining experience. We’ve offered a wide variety of creative student programming. Most important, we’ve been able to keep our doors open when so many colleges have had to shut down and send their students home to an online-only environment.

I know this isn’t easy, but we’ve done this once and I know we can do it again.

Peace and all good,





Dr. Dennis R. DePerro
University President