Fall 2020

West Chester University continues to take all necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff as we closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. We continue to follow the guidance of global, national and local health and government officials. The University is now in the recovery and renewal phase of our COVID-19 operations.

West Chester University is committed to providing a safe environment for all of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors.  As such, WCU’s return to campus is aligned and consistent with local, state, and federal public health guidelines and recommendations.

The return to campus means everyone in our community must adapt to a “new normal,” which includes wearing face masks and practicing six feet of social distancing as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH).  

Adjusting to this new normal will include the following responses for the fall semester:

• All students and employees must wear face masks. The University will be providing all students and employees with two WCU reusable face masks.

• On-campus fall classes will feature both in-person and remote components.
• Based on Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) guidelines, we are finalizing the process of working toward a hybrid on-campus fall semester. This modified model will mean that all regularly scheduled classes will have in-person and remote components. The in-person component will have less crowded classrooms, which will be simulcast for students whose health does not allow in-person attendance. In addition, protective measures are being put in place in classrooms that create appropriate distancing not only between students and faculty members, but between students themselves. In the event that a faculty member cannot provide in-person instruction or if the semester is disrupted by the pandemic, students will still be able to complete their courses via Zoom or another remote application, similar to the transition that occurred in the spring.

• Fall Break will be moved from October to November with a transition to remote learning on November 30 to complete the fall semester.
  Fall Break will move from October 12-13 to November 23-24, in order to minimize travel from and returning to the University campus. This will also support the transition to fully remote learning for the remainder of the fall semester. All in-person instruction (including final exams) will transition to remote learning on Monday, November 30^th. This will help us to minimize COVID-19 exposure risks from travel and proactively prepare for a possible resurgence. Please note that we will make adjustments to dining, housing, and other student fees impacted by the shift to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester or impacted by CDC guidelines around social distancing. 

• All faculty office hours and student advising will be conducted remotely (i.e. Zoom meetings).

• All non-instructional meetings between faculty, staff, and students will be conducted remotely (i.e. Zoom meetings).
  CDC as well as Commonwealth phased opening guidelines for other gatherings will be followed, and we will update the campus community as these guidelines evolve. 

• Co-curricular student activities will follow social distancing measures and guidelines will be in place for non-instructional student facilities (i.e. Sykes Student Union, Student Recreation Center, Lawrence Dining Hall, etc.)
  Resources and guidelines will be provided for students to utilize spaces on campus that follow CDC guidelines, according to the phases of opening directives from the state at that time. Facilities like Sykes Student Union, Student Recreation Center, and Lawrence Hall will be operating at lower capacities to comply with state and local health guidelines. Large gatherings and events will continue to be significantly curtailed through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The University will continue enhanced sanitization, enhanced social distancing and technology upgrades.

• Cleaning and sanitation efforts throughout campus have been increased to meet appropriate CDC guidelines.
• Classrooms are being re-organized/rearranged to aid in social distancing, including adding markings to the classroom floors to denote acceptable/safe social distances.
• Classrooms are being upgraded with technology (audio and video) to allow for concurrent in-person and remote learning wherever possible.

• The University will decrease the number of staff on campus on any given day.
  Just as we are working to provide for social distancing in our classrooms, we are working to decrease the number of staff members in offices on any given day. Using a rotation schedule, we will ensure that we are providing in-person service, while providing for social distancing for our employees. 

 The fall semester will be modified by moving Fall Break from October 12-13 to November 23-24 with all in-person instruction transitioning to remote learning on Monday, November 30, in order to lessen the possibility of an outbreak on campus. Fall Break days have been adjusted, in order to minimize travel from and returning to the University campus. This will also support the transition to fully remote learning for the remainder of the fall semester. All in-person instruction (including final exams) will transition to remote learning on Monday, November 30^th. This will help us to minimize COVID-19 exposure risks from travel and proactively prepare for a possible resurgence.

 The University will make adjustments to dining, housing, and other student fees impacted by this planned shift to remote instruction or impacted by CDC guidelines around social distancing.

 Cleaning and sanitation efforts throughout campus have been increased to meet appropriate CDC guidelines.

 

Classrooms are being re-organized/rearranged to aid in social distancing, including adding markings to the classroom floors to denote acceptable/safe social distances.

Remote learning continues to take place for all summer sessions scheduled at West Chester University. In keeping with the same proactive strategy pursued by Governor Wolf to help protect the health and safety of Commonwealth residents, the Pennsylvania State System suspended in-person instruction for all summer scheduled classes for 2020 on each of the 14 State System University campuses.

 

CDC as well as Commonwealth phased opening guidelines for other gatherings will be followed, and we will update the campus community as these guidelines evolve.

 

 CDC as well as Commonwealth phased opening guidelines for other gatherings will be followed, and we will update the campus community as these guidelines evolve. The University also continues to be in close contact with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for additional guidance regarding regulations during campus re-entry.

 There is currently no plan to implement the Alternative Grading Policy for the fall 2020 semester.

The University is committed to providing an on-campus commencement/graduation experience for the Class of 2020 and those who will be graduating in December of 2020. At the point that we are allowed to host gatherings larger than 250, the University will determine which weekend dates are viable and will inform our graduates at least 45 days prior to the ceremonies. Please be aware that this may nor may not occur by the end of the 2020 calendar year.