All Classes Remote to Start Winter Quarter; In-person Classes Delayed Until Jan. 19

Dear Campus Community,

WWU Incident Command continues to monitor the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases locally, regionally and nationally. Our top priority is keeping students, staff and faculty at WWU safe in the face of the surge of COVID-19 activity.

The start of the winter quarter will require continued diligence, including the testing of any students who will have a regular on-campus presence. This includes students living in campus housing, participating in face-to-face classes or working on campus. Testing will be held at Fraser Hall.

With the likelihood of higher case rates than we observed fall quarter, and the need to ensure adequate testing capacity, the start of winter quarter in-person classes will be delayed at Western’s main campus in Bellingham. All classes will begin as scheduled for the first day of winter quarter on Jan. 5 but will be remote instruction. Classes with in-person meetings will start the quarter by remote delivery and will continue as such until Tuesday, Jan. 19, when in-person teaching will begin for the winter quarter. This will follow the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 18.

Western students in other locations including Everett, Bremerton and Poulsbo should follow local guidance.

Please stay safe, make healthy choices, and avoid the three Cs: crowded places, closed spaces and close contact.

Rich Van Den Hul
WWU Incident Manager and Vice President for Business & Financial Affairs