Introduction of eight five-week terms to enable Unity College to re-evaluate in-person teaching based on COVID-19 developments

On Friday, after months of deliberation and analyzing the logistics around the possibility of opening its Flagship Campus this fall amid COVID-19, Unity College announced that it will continue remote learning for the 2020-21 academic year. All courses for the academic year will be taught remotely through Hybrid Learning or online through Distance Education in 5-week terms, which will give the College increased flexibility to more frequently re-evaluate whether it is safe to resume in-person classes.

All students, regardless of major, can continue taking the classes they need to make progress on earning their degrees, including declared double majors and minors. All remote or online courses will be offered at the Hybrid Learning online tuition rate, which is significantly less than the Flagship tuition rate. 

“Our planning has sought to mitigate risks to our students and employees. It has focused on our goal of providing multiple options for our students to make progress on their educational aspirations,” said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury in an email to students. “The good news is that we have spent many years, prior to the pandemic, developing our ability to deliver high-quality, immersive learning experiences in multiple pedagogical modalities. We know that some of you want to learn online and others of you want to be in-person and in-residence. When conditions allow, we will return to in-person instruction and until that time we are offering plans for all our students, in all majors, to follow their academic passions and earn their Unity College degree.”

Housing plans remain subject to the restrictions of local public health authorities, and the College will follow safety protocols as they continue to develop. The College is phasing employees back to the workplace as guided by recommendations from the State of Maine and the CDC. This phased approach is intended to help prevent and slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus among employees, continue business operations, and create a healthy workplace.