AMHERST, N.Y. – With the COVID-19 pandemic expected to continue into the new year, Daemen College has announced it will delay the start of the spring semester to February and all breaks have been cancelled. 

Under the revised schedule, spring classes will begin on campus on Feb. 15, approximately three weeks past the original start date of Jan. 27. All breaks have been cancelled and classes will be held straight through to May 14 and finals will end on May 21. The date of Daemen’s Commencement 2021 is to be determined and the date will be shared with the campus community when it is available. 

“Given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, we believe these preventive measures for the spring semester will help reduce the possible spread of coronavirus on campus and best protect the health and safety of our college community,” Dr. Michael Brogan, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “This schedule will also provide greater opportunity for our college to be well-prepared for reopening for the spring semester and for us to provide a high-quality, in-person academic and student experience.”

Based on assessments from the fall semester and the ever changing nature of the COVID pandemic, minor adjustments have been made to improve on the college’s established protocols and guidelines to protect the well-being of the entire campus community. As with the fall semester, Daemen will require that all students, faculty, and staff be tested for COVID-19 to be allowed to return to school and work. 

“Our mandatory testing enabled Daemen to create a ‘campus bubble’ that, combined with surveillance testing, face masks, and robust contact tracing, has kept positive cases isolated and students engaged in on-campus activities safely,” said Dr. Greg Nayor, vice president for strategic initiatives.

With the academic calendar adjustments, Daemen students will return to campus after the expected peak flu season and a possible second wave of COVID-19 that has been predicted by public health experts. During the semester, all student services, residence halls, dining operations, administrative offices, and other services will remain open and available for use.