CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The future of college sports is not the only thing in limbo -- college spring break could be on the chopping block as the University of North Carolina Charlotte joins a list of other schools across the country considering getting ride of spring break.
Student leaders told Channel 9 the school may replace it with “mental health days.”
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Those days would be scheduled by the university.
Student government member Dick Beekman said he is concerned about the impact it could have on students who are already struggling with COVID-19 changes this semester.
“Students have already gone through a grind over the course of the fall and we’ve really had this condensed schedule without much of a break,” Beekman said. “I know many students are struggling with this.”
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School administrators have not said anything about this potential plan, but Beekman said he believes leaders are trying to protect students from bringing the virus back to campus.
He is hoping leaders will consider splitting spring break into two smaller breaks.
UNC Charlotte will start in-person classes next week, but only for freshmen and first year transfers. Also, students in programs that have to meet face-to-face on campus will be allowed to return.
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The rest will stay online and changes will last up to Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving break, all classes will be online for the rest of the semester.
Students at UNC Chapel Hill may not return to campus until mid-to-late January. The chancellor mapped out five different scenarios for the spring semester.
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Right now, the start date is Jan. 6, but that could be pushed back to either Jan. 13 or 19. An official announcement is expected in the next two weeks.
Students started the fall semester on campus, but had to quickly move online because of COVID-19 clusters.