The Clark community is celebrating the start of the Spring 2021 semester, although students have yet to return to campus. Classes have started in an all-remote format, with faculty and students connecting virtually, from wherever they are.

After almost two full weeks of classes, all Clark students who have chosen to return to campus will move in on Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6 (no classes will be held March 5). Remote-only classes will continue March 8 and 9, with in-person and hybrid classes starting on Wednesday, March 10.

The delayed return to campus was implemented to allow COVID-19 trends to improve in the Worcester region, President David Fithian and Provost Davis Baird told the Clark community in a February 1 message. “As before, we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” they wrote. During the spring semester, Clark will continue to be guided by the principles articulated in The Clark Commitment and follow the strict testing, mask-wearing, and social distancing protocols of the Healthy Clark COVID Plan.

“Our students continue to astound us with their ability to adapt to these historic circumstances with grace and persistence,” Fithian and Baird said in their message, noting that the success of the Fall 2020 semester proved an enriching and safe in-person experience is possible in the time of COVID. “Let’s start strong and finish even stronger,” they added.