Hanover to Resume In Person Classes Beginning August 24

The school will continue to make decisions following information provided by national, state and local officials, including the CDC.

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(Hanover, Ind.) - Yesterday, Hanover College President Lake Lambert has announced that the 2020-21 academic year will begin Monday, August 24, with on-campus, face-to-face classes.

Using a strategic, measured approach, Hanover's return to on-campus instruction will focus on three broad areas, including health and safety of the campus community, academic success and student life and experience. 

The school will continue to make decisions following information provided by national, state and local officials, including the CDC. The school also stated that they will also follow guidelines set by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and the state's reopening strategy. 

"Amidst all of the uncertainty, one thing remains constatnt- out commitment to educating the next generation of leaders in a safe, meaningful, and transformative environment," said Lambert. 

The School also announced how they plan to go about the three areas of focus. 

Health and Saftey

To better equip the College to handle potential community health issues, Hanover’s health and safety protocols will include:

• a disinfectant specialist, provided through WFF Facility Services, the College’s custodial contractor, to ensure all campus and high-traffic areas are regularly and thoroughly disinfected.
• modified dining arrangements through Parkhurst Dining, Hanover’s food-service provider, to enhance protocols and enable social distancing.
• new protocols for the use of disinfectant, masks, or other personal protective equipment in common areas.
• installation of protective shields/barriers for customer service/transaction locations and additional hand-sanitizer stations throughout campus.
• relocation of Health Services to a less-congested campus location.
• development of quarantine locations and extensive procedures.
• exploring the addition of a telehealth capability for health and counseling services.

Academics

The August 24 starting date, two weeks earlier than the College's traditional Labor Day beginning to the academic year, will allow flexibility for face-to-face instruction to be completed by Thanksgiving.

To help ensure the academic success of its students, Hanover will also augment its level of faculty training and investment in online instruction. The online capability will also ensure an optimal experience for students, should the need arise for extensive remote instruction.

Campus Life and Experience

The College is committed to providing a memorable, on-campus experience for its students to the extent possible with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanover's effort to support student life and a "real" campus experience includes:

• housing arrangements and protocols to maximize togetherness that prioritizes student health and safety.
• creative activities that will enable student interaction while maintaining adequate social distancing.
• innovative virtual events to keep students connected and safe.
• safe intercollegiate athletic programs in coordination with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.