Syracuse University delays spring semester by one week

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In a letter to the campus community Wednesday, Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud announced that the spring semester will start on Januray 24, 2022, a week later than planned, due to the surge of the omicron variant.

The decision to push it back was based partially on "warnings from public health officials that the first three weeks of January will be the most challenging," according to the announcement.

Read the full announcement here.

This isn’t the first time the university has delayed in-person classes because of the virus. Last year classes didn’t begin until February. In his announcement, Syverud said despite the delay, he is still optimisitc about the spring semester. The announcement says in part:

"Syracuse University has safely and successfully held three in-person semesters of instruction in the midst of the pandemic. Each semester, the circumstances have been different. Each semester, the resilience of our Orange community has remained the same. Each semester, we have made decisions based on science and the best public health guidance. I am confident in our ability to do it again."

The chancellor said while the delays this year and last year are similar, a big difference this year is the vaccine. The university is requiring students, faculty, and staff to get the booster shot before they return for the spring semester.

The delay will not impact the school’s spring break, which is still planned for March 13-20.