UC Merced delays start date for in-person classes due to housing shortage

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Officials with UC Merced announced the university would delay its start date for in-person classes to August 30 after a housing shortage left thousands of students without a guaranteed place to live.

Administrators said that the faculty offering in-person courses would be able to utilize online assignments for asynchronous learning starting August 25 or they could wait until instruction begins in person on August 30.

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The delay will not include classes that were meant to be taught online this semester. Those classes will begin on August 25 as previously scheduled.

Last week, would-be student tenants at Merced Station received emails stating material and labor shortages meant their move-in date would be postponed until late September, more than a month after the planned start of the fall semester.

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University officials said they hoped the later date would help give more time to help students with their housing needs.

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