The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

NKU goes ‘back to the future’ for Fall 2021: in person learning, campus housing

March 16, 2021

President Ashish Vaidya announces campus will be headed “back to the future” for the Fall 2021 semester.

The fall semester, beginning Monday, August 23, will include in-person learning, residence hall at capacity, and campus events and activities “that engage [students] and the community in ways we have come to expect.”

“Our university will have the vibrancy that we yearn for, but with a renewed sense of how we support our students,” Vaidya announced in an email addressed to the campus community.

Vaidya said the fall semester cannot be a simple return to the campus of 2019, pre-COVID-19. However, NKU has taken lessons learned from the pandemic and will utilize them to advance the vision of the university.

He notes one of the most valuable lessons is adapting to meet each student where they are.

“Our fall courses will include various modes of delivery—in-person, hybrid and online—to provide greater flexibility and options for diverse learners,” Vaidya said. “We will use what we have learned about their changing needs and expectations, to create an even more responsive and supportive experience for them.”

According to Vaidya, by providing this renewed focus on a tech-enhanced, coordinated academic and social support network, the University will significantly boost retention, persistence and graduation rates while closing equity gaps.

“The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, but we must seize the opportunity to review and evaluate the NKU experience with a fresh perspective,” Vaidya said. “NKU’s agility and propensity for innovation means we can accelerate the change our university needs, to become a more student-ready, regionally engaged institution, and I am excited by the possibilities.”

Vaidya said while everyone is looking forward to the fall semester, it is important to note that we should remain vigilant to keep the COVID-19 infection rates low.

“Even if you are vaccinated, the person next to you might not be,” Vaidya said. “NKU will continue to follow the CDC and Kentucky guidelines, so we can safely reinvigorate our campus this fall.”

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