UNC Prepares For Another Pandemic Fall Semester: What’s Different This Year? Posted Aug 12, 2021 UNC students begin the fall semester on August 18. Last fall, students participated in in-person instruction for only five days before the university announced the move to virtual instruction. This year, UNC leadership is approaching public health measures differently. Students who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 will be required to continue receiving weekly tests. (Chapelboro.com)