USU Eastern is scheduled to begin courses on August 31 and school officials are looking forward to a new school year as last year was cut a bit short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Associate Vice President, Greg Dart took some time to sit down with Castle Country Radio to discuss the upcoming school year and about the safety precautions the school is taking this year.

“One thing that we know for certain is that things are going to be different and basically our goal has been all along is how do we provide the best educational opportunity as possible, in the safest manner possible and I think we have a very good plan that of course at anytime could change with changing information but it’s going to be very different then we have had in the past,” said Dart. The university is working closely with the local health department and following CDC recommendations when it comes to implementing safety precautions.

“So our on-campus classes will run from August 31 through November 20 and then after November 20 they’ll finish up online. So when students go for the Thanksgiving Break they won’t have to come back to campus. A student can, who’s living on campus, can stay there but all of those classes will be online after the 20th of November that’s a big change number one,” said Dart. In years past, students would return to school after the break only to attend school for about two/three weeks to finish up finals for the semester.

Another big change is how courses are being offered this year which gives students many different options. “We usually, about 85 to 90 percent classes are face to face, either through interactive video conference or with a professor right in front of you, we’re looking now at about half that it’s about 45 percent of our classes. There’s an online option for just about any class that we offer or at least an option that is offered virtually and so the way that our courses are offered are another big change,” explained Dart. This will give students a more convenient and flexible schedule to work with while furthering their education.

Also, this year is that face coverings will be required on campus. “Anytime that you are in a campus building, a face covering is required and its basically the best information that we have now on how to keep people safe. The only exceptions we don’t ask that if somebody has a face covering on while their eating and for an employee who is alone in their office, but anyone on campus would wear a face covering,” said Dart. Every student will be provided with a USU Eastern face mask when they arrive on campus.