Bowie State Announces Fall 2020 Plan to Return to Campus

Students to Learn On-Site & Online, with On-Campus Priority on First-Year Students

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University announces a plan to return to on-campus learning and working after COVID-19 restrictions, using a phased approach to reduce the number of people on campus and protect the health and well-being of the students, employees and the public.

The Bowie State fall semester begins Monday, August 31, with a plan that follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for effective physical distancing and recommendations from the University System of Maryland (USM) for its 12 member universities.

BSU students will take a mix of in-person classes, classes that use in-person and virtual methods, as well as fully remote classes. All classes will be delivered remotely after the Thanksgiving break. First-year students will receive priority for in-person classes and on-campus housing to aid in their transition to college life.

“Success in the first year is critical to students’ academic and personal development,” said Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux. “The direct engagement with our faculty, along with immersive co-curricular activities, are important in nurturing their ability to persist at the university.”

BSU hopes to offer in-person classes for some upper-class students, particularly those in programs where hands-on learning and access to specialized equipment are difficult to replicate virtually. Some on-campus housing will be available for upper-class students with special circumstances, and efforts are underway to secure additional off-campus housing for those students.

University employees will start to return to the campus in mid-June, beginning with faculty researchers. Teleworking may continue in the fall for some BSU employees, especially for those in high-risk categories, those caring for loved ones and those who can effectively work from home to reduce the number of people on campus.

A campus-wide workgroup developed the Return to Campus Plan, designed for flexibility to enable the university to make adjustments, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Teams will continue the process of finalizing details for strategies and specific steps to support campus operations.

“Bowie State University remains committed to our mission of providing access and affordability to a high-quality educational experience,” said President Breaux. “As we look to the fall 2020 semester, I ask that every member of our campus community continue to draw on the tenacious determination of our Bulldog spirit, facing the new normal together.”

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.