Boston Conservatory Announces a Hybrid Semester on Campus This Spring

Boston Conservatory will resume on-campus instruction this spring with a hybrid semester that blends in-person instruction and state-of-the-art online coursework. The semester will begin a week later and forgo spring break.

October 15, 2020

 

Boston Conservatory at Berklee announced today its plan to resume on-campus instruction on January 25, 2021, with a hybrid learning model that balances in-person experiential instruction on campus with online academic coursework that can be completed remotely. 

The hybrid model, designed to adapt seamlessly to a fully remote delivery if needed for any period of time, allows the community to begin a safe and measured return to campus. For those unable to teach or learn on campus this spring, the Conservatory will provide flexible options for a fully remote schedule that engages students meaningfully and addresses individual needs.

Highlights of Boston Conservatory’s campus hybrid curriculum include an evenly balanced schedule of in-person and online instruction; block scheduling and small cohorts of 10 students or fewer for all classes on campus; practice room and campus facility access; and various performances opportunities that utilize state-of-the-art technology in innovative ways to livestream content to remote audiences. 

To ensure a safe and thoughtful return to campus, Berklee has partnered with medical professionals and its healthcare provider, Tufts Medical Center, in developing extensive plans and protocols that put the health and safety of community members first. Some of the many precautions being taken include:

  • a one-week delay in starting the spring semester, and the elimination of spring break to minimize risk associate with travel;
  • regular campus testing, including surveillance testing;
  • increased COVID-19 education, care, and support in partnership with Tufts Medical Center;
  • contact tracing;
  • quarantine and isolation protocols;
  • reconfiguring campus spaces and revising room occupancy guidelines based on industry guidance;
  • room scheduling that accounts for increased cleanings and proper air recirculation between activities;
  • using protective barriers in some campus spaces;
  • increasing hand sanitation stations throughout campus; and
  • reengineering campus traffic flows, with supporting campus signage.

To help ensure everyone’s safety, all community members will be asked to complete an online course specific to Berklee that addresses health and safety requirements, protocols, and expectations. In addition, those returning to campus this spring will be required to sign a social compact of shared responsibility that agrees to follow Berklee’s guidelines for keeping shared environments safe. 

A comprehensive FAQ with more information regarding policies related to the campus reopening is available here and will be updated regularly as details become available.

Learn more about Berklee’s reopening plans for the spring 2021 semester.