Coronavirus: Academic Decisions
Ohio State has adjusted a number of practices to advance our academic mission and protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This page provides a summary of decisions and resources specific to the academic process. Please see the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website for more information.
Also see our calendar of upcoming academic dates.
Teaching and Learning
Spring 2022 and ongoing
| Topic | Key result(s) | Resource(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty guidance for spring session | Faculty Guidance | Safe and Healthy Buckeyes Teaching page |
| Spring 2022 term | Information about Spring 2022 | COVID-19 response update |
| Spring 2022 term | Instructional breaks | Calendar |
Autumn 2020 - Spring 2021
Autumn 2021
| Topic | Key result(s) | Resource(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Fall reactivation | Fall reactivation message from President Johnson, Provost McPheron | |
| Course planning | Guidance on course planning for autumn 2021 |
| Topic | Key result(s) | Resource(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessments | Resources offered for online assessments | |
| CarmenCanvas | Faculty should enable Carmen for all courses | |
| English Proficiency | Graduate School to accept Duolingo Enlish Test in lieu of TOEFL through Sept. 1 | |
| Events | Certain university venues approved to host events under 100 people | |
| Graduate defenses | Graduate defenses can be conducted online | |
| Internet | Free and low-cost internet options listed | |
| Libraries | All services provided virtually; campus facilities closed | Libraries COVID-19 Webpage |
| Summer term 2020 | Summer term moved online, start and end dates moved back one week | Academic calendar |
| Summer commencement | Virtual commencement will be held Aug. 9 | Academic calendar |
Travel and Study Abroad
| Topic | Key result(s) | Resource(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic travel | Domestic travel limited to business essential; existing trips cancelled | FAQs |
| Domestic travel | “Business essential” and process for domestic travel defined | FAQs |
| International travel | All new travel suspended; existing trips cancelled | FAQs |
| Summer programs | All summer education abroad (OIA) programs cancelled | Important dates (PDF) |
Faculty and Staff: Work and Career
Academic Dates
Spring 2021
| Key date | Decision |
|---|---|
| Jan. 11 | Spring 2021 semester begins; classes are virtual through Jan. 22 |
| Jan. 18 | Move-in day for students in residence halls |
| Jan. 25 | Classes continue in all modes: in person, hybrid and online/distance learning |
| Feb. 23-34 | Instructional break I; no classes |
| March 31-April 1 | Instructional break II; no classes |
| April 2 | Conversion day: Wednesday classes meet instead of Friday classes |
| April 23 | Last day of classes |
| April 26-30 | Spring term exams |
| May 9 | Commencement |
| Key date | Decision |
|---|---|
| April 17 | Student deadline for grade forgiveness petitions |
| April 17 | Student deadline to invoke Pass/No Pass option or withdraw from a class. In either case, must be enacted by academic advisor. |
| April 17 | Graduate final oral exams deadline for graduating students |
| April 24 | Final day of spring 2020 classes |
| April 24 | Graduate final theses/dissertations deadline for submission and approval by Graduate School |
| April 27 | Finals begin for spring 2020 |
| May 1 | Finals end for spring 2020 |
| May 1 | Deadline for extension of tenure clock (for those with review scheduled for Autumn 2020/2020-21 academic year) |
| May 3 | Spring commencement |
| May 8 | Last day to submit grades |
| May 12 | Graduate School end of semester deadline; students may graduate without summer enrollment |
| Key date | Decision |
|---|---|
| May 13 | Summer term courses begin |
| May 15 | Teaching Support Program completion deadline for compensation-eligible faculty |
| June 30 | All university-sponsored international and non-essential domestic travel cancelled through this date. |
| June 30 | Temporary hiring freeze in place through this date. |
| July 1 | Deadline for unit schedulers to provide registrar with updated plans for course sections |
| July 6 | All university events cancelled through July 6 |
| July 22 | Student deadline to complete course work from Spring 2020 incomplete classes |
| July 31 | End of summer classes |
| August | All education abroad programs cancelled through summer 2020 |
| Aug. 3 | Summer finals start |
| Aug. 5 | Summer finals end |
| Aug. 9 | Summer commencement |
| Aug. 25 | Autumn term courses begin |
| Sept. 1 | Kristina M. Johnson begins as Ohio State's 16th president |
| Sept. 7 | Labor Day (university holiday; no classes) |
| Oct. 15-16 | Classes in session (no Fall Break) |
| Nov. 11 | Veterans Day (university holiday; no classes) |
| Nov. 22 | In-person teaching ends for most classes; labs, studio, performance and clinical courses may continue |
| Nov. 25 | Last day of in-person instruction |
| Nov. 30 | Autumn classes resume in distance modes |
| Dec. 4 | Autumn term courses end |
| Dec. 7 | Autumn exams begin |
| Dec. 11 | Autumn term exams end |
| Dec. 13 | Autumn commencement |
| Jan. 3 | Enterprise Project - Workday (HR and Payroll go live) |
| Jan. 7 | Enterprise Project - Workday (Finance and Supply Chain go live) |
General COVID-19 resources
INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
- Information about coronavirus and the university’s response
- Guidance for students, faculty and staff
- Guidance for researchers
- Human Resources information and guidance
TIPS, TOOLS AND STRATEGIES
- Keep Teaching: Resources for faculty
- Keep Learning: Resources for students
- Keep Working: Resources for staff
- Keep Researching: Resources for researchers
- Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning
- University Libraries services during COVID-19
HOW TO HELP