Binghamton University will delay the beginning of its spring semester by one week in response to the high COVID-19 case numbers of spread of the omicron variant, BU President Harvey Stenger said in an email message Thursday.

Classes will now start Tuesday, Jan. 25, rather than Tuesday, Jan. 18. The semester will also end five days later than initially scheduled, now on Wednesday, May 11. Finals will be held May 13-19 and commencement will be moved back one week and will be held May 20, 21 and 22.

All other semester dates will remain the same, such as for spring break.

"We strongly encourage on-campus residents to self-test before returning to campus and to remain at home if they test positive to avoid having to return home immediately upon arrival," Stenger said. "Move-in to campus residence halls will occur from Jan. 20-23. All residential students will then be tested for COVID-19 at the campus Surveillance Testing Center in Old Union Hall in The Union prior to being allowed to move into their rooms. Any student who tests positive will be required to return home or will be placed in campus isolation housing if it is not possible to return home. More information about the move-in schedule and how to sign up for a move-in time will be provided by Residential Life in early January. International students will receive detailed information from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) addressing their unique circumstances."

Stenger strongly recommend that off-campus students secure their own COVID-19 test and test negative 72 hours before returning to an in-person class when the semester begins.

Syracuse University also pushed back the beginning of its spring semester.