Fall 2020 Reopening Plans At The Top 100 U.S. Business Schools

Harvard Business School will not go entirely remote this fall. File photo

SAFETY IS FIRST PRIORITY AS CHICAGO BOOTH EMBRACES ‘DUAL MODALITY’

In a message to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business community in late June, Dean Madhav Rajan praised the way those at the school have collaborated during the pandemic, and predicted further enthusiasm, creativity, and flexibility in the months ahead as the school employs its hybrid approach to instruction across programs.

Starr Marcello. Chicago Booth photo

“Chicago Booth’s core values of rigorous inquiry, a data-driven approach, respect for the individual, and a supportive community have remained at the forefront throughout the pandemic,” Rajan wrote. “These values continue to drive us to deliver on our mission to provide knowledge with enduring impact, and to influence and educate future leaders.”

The safety of the Chicago Booth community is obviously the first priority, says Starr Marcello, deputy dean for MBA programs. As such, the school has announced initial plans for “dual modality” in the autumn quarter — a hybrid approach including in-person and remote classes, “allowing us to bring back as many members of our community as possible for the new academic year, while adhering to public health guidance involving social distancing and other Covid-19 health measures,” she says. “Our approach gives us the flexibility to adjust as needed based on evolving external conditions and trends of the pandemic.

“With dual modality, faculty have the option to be remote or in class, and students have the option to be remote or in class,” Marcello continues in an email to P&Q. “Some classes will be offered in a hybrid format, with some students in class and some remote, while some classes will be offered remotely only. Both faculty and students reported the remote experience this past spring exceeded expectations. As for our safety protocols, we have a number of measures in place including a mandatory Covid-19 training prior to students being on campus, universal face coverings, social distancing practices, hand sanitizer stations, self-monitoring, and more.”

The university and Booth worked closely with University of Chicago Medicine, Marcello says, where some of the world’s leading experts in infectious disease practice. The school also is following the guidelines of public health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, including the state’s “Restore Illinois” plan.

Students, faculty, and staff all have had a voice in preparations for the fall, Marcello says, emphasizing that the situation is very fluid.

“We are currently working with our community to develop further processes and scenarios as we continue to monitor this unprecedented situation,” Marcello says. “The good news is our dual modality structure provides flexibility for students and faculty. We recognize this hybrid model is not what everyone originally anticipated. However, we hold steadfast to our commitment to deliver the same world-class education Booth is known for — regardless of whether that learning takes place in person or virtually.”

SCHOOL CONTROL STATE STATUS FALL 2020 CLASS START/END DATES
Georgia Tech (Scheller) Public GA Planning for in-person August 17 to November 23
Harvard Business School  Private MA Proposing a hybrid model September 2 to December 3
Howard University Private DC Proposing a hybrid model August 24 to November 25
Indiana (Kelley) Public IN Proposing a hybrid model August 24 to November 12
Iowa State (Ivy) Public IA Planning for in-person August 17 to November 25
Louisiana State-Baton Rouge (Ourso) Public LA Planning for in-person August 24 to December 5
MIT (Sloan) Private MA Proposing a hybrid model September 1 to December 9
Michigan State (Broad) Public MI Proposing a hybrid model September 2 to December 11
New York (Stern) Private NY Proposing a hybrid model August 26 to December 9
North Carolina State (Poole) Public NC Planning for in-person August 10 to November 13
Northeastern (D’Amore-McKim) Private MA Proposing a hybrid model September 9 to December 12
Northwestern (Kellogg) Private IL Proposing a hybrid model September 21 to December 10
Notre Dame (Mendoza) Private IN Planning for in-person August 17 to November 19
Ohio State (Fisher) Public OH Proposing a hybrid model August 25 to December 4
Oklahoma State (Spears) Public OK Planning for in-person August 17 to December 4
Pennsylvania State (Smeal) Public PA Planning for in-person August 24 to December 11
Pepperdine (Graziadio) Private CA Proposing a hybrid model August 31 to December 7
Rice (Jones) Private TX Proposing a hybrid model August 24 to December 8
Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders) Private NY Planning for in-person August 26 to November 24
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Newark and New Brunswick Public NJ Proposing a hybrid model September 1 to December 10
Southern Methodist (Cox) Private TX Planning for in-person, but with exemptions for those preferring to learn remotely August 24 to December 4; final exams online 
Stanford GSB Private CA Proposing a hybrid model September 11 to December 4
Stevens Institute of Technology Private NJ Considering a range of scenarios August 31 to December 11
Syracuse (Whitman) Private NY Planning for in-person August 24 to November 24

Source: Manaferra & school websites

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