Samford University has announced plans to resume on-campus classes and reopen residence halls for the fall 2020 semester. 

In an announcement to employees, the university outlined plans for a gradual reopening of campus, beginning Monday, May 18. In the first phase, a limited number of employees and contractors will resume work on campus. Additional employees will be granted access to campus in a second phase, projected to begin on Monday, June 15. Entry to and exit from the campus will be gained through the use of employee identification cards at the university’s west gate. The campus will otherwise remain closed. The announcement advised that heightened health and safety standards will be implemented, consistent with public health authorities and CDC guidelines.

The university previously announced that all summer term classes will be taught online and student orientation sessions for entering freshmen, transfer students and their families will be delivered virtually.

In reflecting on the university’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Samford president Dr. Andrew Westmoreland provided additional insights, “A crisis of this magnitude creates monumental challenges, but also allows opportunities to learn and adapt. We’ve developed new processes and competencies, most notably in online education. While we look forward to the return of in-person instruction, this experience will undoubtedly strengthen our integration of technology in the classroom and across all of our operations for years to come. The pandemic has challenged us to think in new ways and to adapt our operations, but more than anything, it has reaffirmed the importance of our mission, which unites our Samford community and is what our students, alumni and employees value most.” 

For the latest on Samford’s response to COVID-19, visit www.samford.edu/go/coronavirus.