Notre Dame’s spring semester will begin February 3, winter break will last 10 weeks

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—The University of Notre Dame will not start their 2021 spring semester until February 3, the university announced Wednesday.

Students will forgo spring break and end classes on May 11.

The February 3 start date is three weeks later than originally planned and classes will end two weeks later.

Finals exams have been scheduled for May 14, 15, 17, 18, and 19.

Commencement ceremonies will take place May 22-23 of 2021.

The break between the fall semester, which ends before Thanksgiving, and the spring semester will be 10 weeks long.

During the break, the university plans to offer students internship, group project, virtual language table, online course and career development opportunities.

“The cold temperatures of winter will not allow us to use outdoor spaces as we have so far this fall, and the winter months are also the peak for seasonal flu in this region. Consequently, after discussions with the President’s Faculty Advisory Committee, the Academic Reopening Committee, the President’s Leadership Council and the Student Advisory Group for Campus Reopening, we have decided to shift the dates for the second semester of the 2020-21 academic year to lessen our time on campus during these winter months,” university president Rev. John I. Jenkins said.