Tigers begin spring term 'with hope for what is to come'
With some students back on campus, Towson University looks ahead to a more vibrant spring term.
By Rebecca Kirkman on January 24, 2021
Tigers are roaming campus again.
With the start of the spring term at Towson University on Jan. 25, more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students return to class. After two weeks of remote instruction, classes will move to a blend of face-to-face and remote instruction on Feb. 8.
In a message to the TU community for the first day of classes, President Kim Schatzel wrote: "I’m so proud of the efforts of our students, faculty, staff and TU community through this past year. We’ve shown how we can remain #TUtogether[BROKEN LINK] in spite of the pandemic. So, in 2021, let’s keep moving forward as only Tigers can—with hope for what is to come."
The TU community looks forward to the return of a vibrant campus life, with opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage in person and remotely.
“We’ve learned a lot as we navigated the pandemic in the fall term. We’ll continue to build on those lessons learned in the spring,” says TU Vice President for Student Affairs Vernon Hurte. “The experience, innovations and successes that have come out of practicing the COVID-19 safety guidelines are allowing us to move forward with confidence as we continue to navigate student life amid COVID-19.”
The university has put into place a number of protocols to prioritize health and safety, but also to enable in-person learning and events to resume.
Hurte points to student leaders for making a vibrant campus life possible this spring.
“Our Student Government Association and other student leaders across campus have been great assets by stepping up as ambassadors and leaders as we navigate this season,” Hurte says. “They want to return to that vibrant campus community, and they’re motivated to do the right things needed to be examples, not just for our campus, but beyond our campus.”
When hybrid classes resume in February, about 15 percent of instruction will take place in person. And approximately 1,400 students —about 25 percent of the university's housing capacity—will reside on campus as the semester begins.
Construction projects that will benefit thousands of current and future students are nearing completion or hitting major turning points, including the new Science Complex. New outdoor spaces, including Chapman Quad, located between the Media Center and Stephens Hall, will provide places to gather while maintaining physical distance.
Towson University is a mask-on campus. Learn more about TU’s COVID response and planning.