ASU Cancels Spring Break To Slow Coronavirus Spread

TEMPE, AZ — In a bid to cut down on travel and curb the spread of the coronavirus on campus, Arizona State University students will go without a Spring Break in 2021.

ASU Provost Mark Searle announced the news in an email to students Thursday. The spring semester is set to begin January 11 and will end on May 1. The spring 2021 graduation commencement is scheduled to take place on May 3.

"As always, we will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and make adjustments to our operations as needed," the letter said. "All faculty, staff and students are required to continue to comply with public health requirements."

The change will apply for in-person and online students alike. ASU previously canceled its fall break in October and ended in-person classes early after Thanksgiving, also to avoid a potential surge in cases caused by holiday travel.

Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona have also canceled their spring breaks, with the latter opting for "reading days" sprinkled throughout the second semester.

In-person graduation ceremonies are set for May and December 2021, according to the university's website. Graduates who participated in virtual ceremonies throughout 2020 will be invited back to graduate in-person.