MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile is preparing for a return to normal for fall semester 2021, with face-to-face, in-person classes and a full schedule of student activities, said UM President Lonnie Burnett.
“We will continue to follow CDC guidelines, and we are confident in our ability to make the necessary adjustments if safety concerns arise during fall semester,” Burnett said.
The university has continued holding in-person, face-to-face classes during the pandemic, with some limitations. The greatest impact in a return to normal will be the ability to offer a wide range of full capacity student activities, including athletic events and Ram Rush student orientation week, Burnett said.
During fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, the university capped classroom size to follow CDC distancing guidelines, with students alternating between Zoom/synchronous learning and on-ground classes.
“Because of our small size and ability to adjust quickly, the University of Mobile has been able to continue holding in-person classes this past fall semester and during the current spring semester. Our fall semester graduation was held in-person on campus in December, and we are planning for an in-person outdoor graduation ceremony on May 8,” Burnett said.
The number of COVID-19 cases has been on the decline since peaking at 21 positive cases in the third week of October. Currently, there are no cases on campus, with only three commuter students and one faculty member in isolation or quarantine.
Registration for fall semester is underway, and the university continues to host in-person campus visits, including the upcoming March 19 UM Day. Schedule a campus visit or RSVP for UM Day at umobile.edu/visit.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.