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GREENVILLE — East Carolina University’s fall 2020 semester will begin Aug. 10, two weeks earlier than scheduled, as the university works to fulfill its educational mission while safeguarding the health of its students, faculty and staff. The administration and faculty understand that the early start will create challenges for some members of Pirate Nation and are developing resources to smooth the transition.

Along with the earlier start date and the move to block scheduling, there will be no fall break, allowing the fall semester to conclude before Thanksgiving.

“These changes will minimize the coming and going en masse of students to and from campus and make it possible to have everything completed by Thanksgiving,” said Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson. “By adapting, respecting each other and working together, we will weather this storm.”

Under the block-scheduling format, students will take the same number of courses, but instead of taking all their classes concurrently for the duration of the semester, the semester will be divided into two 8-week blocks. For example, a typical course load of five classes would include two classes in the first block and three in the second, or vice versa. Some courses will continue to be offered in the traditional 15-week format.

Classes for Block 8W1 will begin Aug. 10 and exams will end Sept. 29. Classes for Block 8W2 will begin Oct. 1. Classes that remain in the 15-week format will begin Aug. 10. All exams for the fall semester will end by Nov. 25.

For the spring semester, classes will begin Jan. 19, and there will be no spring break. Final exams will end May 6.

The ECU coronavirus website is updated regularly to include evolving guidance for the university community.