Fall 2020

Yes, anyone on campus in public spaces will be required to wear a mask.

Yes, Student Health Services will be open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Services are available by appointment only. Telehealth appointments are also available. Students who need medical care should contact Student Health Services by phone at 610-436-2509.

Students who call with any of the following list of symptoms will be connected with an available nurse/provider for additional screening and triage. The nurse/provider will discuss symptoms and provide guidance for medical care per current CDC recommendations.

• Fever without suspected etiology
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Known exposure to someone with presumptive/confirmed COVID-19
• Any GI symptoms
• Loss of taste or smell

For more details, please visit Student Health Services Updates for updates regarding Health Center services and procedures. Protocols will be updated in accordance with any changes provided by health authorities. 

• All meetings must follow CDC guidelines for social distancing and large gatherings. General meeting rooms will be set for social distancing and a limited number of people will be permitted in a given space. There must be a virtual option available. When possible, meetings should be held in the virtual environment.
• 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. Student leadership conferences will either be conducted virtually or moved to the Spring semester. Please contact the host department for specific event details.

Yes, we are working to ensure that the Resource Pantry is safely open and accessible to students both in-person and virtually.

 At this time, we recommend that students support community-based organizations through virtual volunteer opportunities. Such opportunities can be found on Service Learning's Social Distancing Page. In-person volunteering and service should only be performed with organizations that have clearly implemented health & safety procedures consistent with state and federal guidelines.

Bus windows will remain open as much as possible. One student per seat. Please visit the Shuttle Bus website for up-to-date changes and announcements.

Yes, Student Health Services will be open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Services are available by appointment only. Telehealth appointments are also available. Students who need medical care should contact Student Health Services by phone at 610-436-2509.

Students who call with any of the following list of symptoms will be connected with an available nurse/provider for additional screening and triage. The nurse/provider will discuss symptoms and provide guidance for medical care per current CDC recommendations.

• Fever without suspected etiology
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Known exposure to someone with presumptive/confirmed COVID-19
• Any GI symptoms
• Loss of taste or smell

For more details, please visit Student Health Services Updates for updates regarding Health Center services and procedures. Protocols will be updated in accordance with any changes provided by health authorities.

Yes, for the health safety of faculty, staff and students, the counseling center will continue to provide online counseling services. For more details, please visit the Counseling Center webpage.

 Yes, there will be social distancing put in place for equipment, virtual fitness classes, and some restrictions on activities offered.

  The University will follow the decisions directed by the PSAC conference and its board. 

Admissions, New Student Programs, and Family & Parent Relations will work collaboratively to communicate the plan for Fall 2020.

 If guidelines change during the fall semester, we will notify students immediately. 

No final exams will be administered prior to the Thanksgiving break. Finals will be administered during the published final exam periods listed in the posted schedule.

 

Unless a course has been designated fully online or remote (the University’s course schedule will indicate this), students will be required to participate physically in person on the day assigned by their faculty member. Students seeking to consolidate the number of times or days they are on campus should seek such an accommodation through a discussion with each individual faculty member.

 

 

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

 

In the event that on-campus housing closes before or during the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 semester due to COVID-19, both WCU and USH will provide students with an adjustment for the unused portions of the semester. Application fees paid to USH for affiliated housing remain non-refundable, but if on-campus housing closes before the start of the Fall semester, the application fee would be applied to a future lease term.

No, there will be no tripling in neither WCU Traditional Housing nor USH Affiliated Housing this fall. In addition, if you voluntarily selected to be in a tripled room, we will work on finding you a new housing assignment.

 Yes, because of the modified schedule, WCU Traditional Housing and USH Affiliated Housing will apply an adjustment to the fall accounts where applicable. A limited group of students may be approved to stay for academic or other approved purposes past November 20, 2020 which may impact the adjustment. 

Students residing in the apartments will be permitted to stay and housing adjustments will not be made. If guidelines or housing recommendations change during the fall semester, we will notify students immediately. 

At this time, you may leave your belongings in your room/apartment during winter break, but it’s strongly encouraged that you take all essential items home.  If guidelines change during the fall semester, we will notify students immediately.  

In an effort to minimize travel, WCU Traditional Housing and USH Affiliated Housing will not be offering a Drop and Go Program this year. However, to provide a smooth transition to campus, we will have sign-up times for students to move into their assigned on-campus residential facility from August 17, 2020 to August 21, 2020. This will allow for social distancing and additional cleaning protocols to occur.  You will receive another communication in mid-to-late July regarding move-in details. 

 

Only pre-approved students can move in early. If you are part of an organization that is permitted to move in early due to an on-campus commitment, your name and move-in date will be provided to WCU Traditional Housing and USH Affiliated Housing from the authorized group or organization. 

In an effort to ensure the well-being of our students, both WCU Traditional Housing and USH Affiliated Housing will have custodial staff cleaning high traffic areas and touch points more frequently. We will also modify the use of our building’s common areas and amenities to ensure we remain compliant with federal, state, and local guidelines.  We will require students and staff to follow CDC guidelines. These and all other guidelines will be posted throughout our communities and they must be adhered to at all times. 

Yes.  Students living on campus and their parent/guardian/guarantor and guests will be required to follow the guidelines outlined by West Chester University and federal, state, county or local governmental agency.

• Face mask – Everyone must wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth when entering on-campus residential facilities. Masks must always be properly worn when in common areas of the building including but not limited to lounges, hallways, common area kitchens, computer labs, etc. 

• Building Access -Residence Halls will only have one entrance/exit available at all locations. Every student will need to check-in at the front entrance with a WCU/USH staff member each time they enter the building. Students may be required to wait in line to be checked into the building.
• Social Distancing – Students will need to practice 6 feet of safe social distancing.
• Amenities – Building amenities will have reduced occupancy to maintain social distancing guidlines.
• Elevators – Students will be required to follow occupancy guidelines posted on each elevator. We encourage students to take the stairs when possible.

• Guest Policy – After you have completed your move in, to protect the residential community, guests will not be permitted.  It is our hope to restore guest access in the fall semester, however, that will depend on the spread of the virus in our community.  Ongoing monitoring of the health and safety of the community will occur continually. 

• Family unit is defined as a group of students who share an apartment, suite or bathroom.

 WCU and USH are here to work with you and family during this difficult time, and USH has committed to setting aside $445,000 in USH Housing Scholarships for financial hardships. These scholarships will be awarded through the Office of Financial Aid for the upcoming academic year. Please complete the USH Scholarships Application here in order to be considered for a one-time award.

 

If you need to cancel your USH lease agreement, we recommend doing so before July 15, 2020 to avoid a lease termination fee. USH Affiliated Housing cannot guarantee that you will be released from your lease agreement but recommend you cancel as early as possible to ensure a qualified replacement is found. We ask that you complete the following form so we can work to accommodate your request: Early Lease Termination Request Form

If you need to cancel your traditional housing agreement, please email housing@wcupa.edu with the date and reason for leaving. A housing representative will contact you with further information. 

If a student is symptomatic, the student will need to call Student Health Services for guidance and/or an appointment with a provider.  If a student is symptomatic and is tested for COVID-19, the student should self-report by completing the designated Maxient form.  The student and potentially the roommates will be asked to return home if possible. Please note, if a student has to return home, they will be permitted to return to the residence halls once being cleared from the medical provider. If the student is unable to return home because of extenuating circumstances, the student will need to self-isolate in University designated locations. Chester County Health Department (CCHD) will be notified. The CCHD has been responsible for conducting contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed. See also Student Health Center FAQ above. 

Yes, Microfridge will provide a prorated refund to the student if the academic year is modified.

WCU Traditional Housing and USH Affiliated Housing will continue to work in coordination with WCU, local, state, and federal guidelines regarding acceptable occupancy in each room/apartment.  If housing assignments need to be modified to comply with occupancy recommendations, we will notify students as quickly as possible.  

As of now, we are expecting that all dining locations across campus will be open, including the Lawrence Dining Hall, the Ram’s Head Food Court in Sykes, Starbucks in the FHG Library, and the various PODs and markets.  However, in order to comply with safety and health guidelines, the dining experience will be different, including restricted seating, modified menu options, and use of technology for ordering and payment.

Learn more about COVID-19 Information for WCU Dining Services.

 

All standard meal plan policies will remain in place.  Students living in the North Campus residence halls will be required to be on one of a group of meal plans offered.  On-campus apartment residents (South Campus Apartments, Village, East Village and College Arms), as well as off-campus and commuter students, may select from any of the meal plans offered.