Hilary L. Link – President
March 17, 2020 at 9:48am
Dear Allegheny Students:
I am writing this morning to follow up on yesterday’s announcement about the remote instruction of classes through the end of the semester.
I understand that the developments of the past few days are an ongoing challenge that you – and we as a community — are facing. This extraordinary situation has required a great deal of flexibility and patience by you and your families, and for that I am very grateful. Please know that we are doing everything possible to support your learning experience while carefully taking into account guidance from officials about the best ways to protect our community and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As a reminder, we are urging any student who possibly can, to leave campus as quickly as possible, and for any students who have already left campus to plan not to return. Today (Tuesday), between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., staff will be available in the Campus Center to meet individually with students needing to make travel plans to leave campus.
Below are answers to several questions to help you as you make the transition to remote courses beginning next Wednesday, March 25. The College will continue to be in communication with you as more information is available.
I have a question about my coursework, my Comp, scheduling for next semester, or another academic concern.
Faculty should be in touch with you via email to share further details regarding their plans for remote delivery of courses. Comp advisers or departments have or will soon be in touch to discuss deadlines, modes of communication regarding revisions, and final presentations.
Registration for fall 2020 is continuing as planned, and you will receive further communication in the coming days.
Please note that several companies are offering options for free internet access in response to the increased need for remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 situation.
Students who have questions about technology help should contact the InfoDesk for assistance.
May students return to campus to retrieve items from their rooms?
Given Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s request on March 16 that all non-essential business be discontinued for the next two weeks, we are asking students and families to delay returning to campus for at least two weeks. Toward the end of March, we hope to designate certain dates in April for students and families to return to retrieve items. We will continue to monitor guidance from officials and will provide you with possible dates as soon as we are able to do so.
If you have items that are essential to completing your academic work or items such as medication that you did not take with you when you left campus, please call the Dean of Students Office at (814) 332-4356 for further assistance.
Important: We anticipate that a small number of students will have exceptional reasons to be on campus for the remainder of the semester. Students who have received approval from the Dean of Students to return to campus after break will need to self-isolate for 14 days to ensure the health of the larger community. Such students will be housed in empty floors in Ravine Hall during their 14-day incubation periods. In order to ensure the health of students currently living in Ravine, we will be working to relocate any who remain for the rest of the semester to other parts of campus. Please note that we do not currently have anyone quarantined or isolated in Ravine Hall.
Will refunds for dining and housing be issued?
We will be issuing prorated refunds for dining and housing; the details are being determined and will be shared with the community in the coming days.
What are the plans for Commencement?
We regretfully share the news that Commencement, planned for Saturday, May 9, will be postponed. This decision was based on the CDC recommendation that, during the next eight weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S. We understand that this necessary postponement will come as a tremendous disappointment to our graduating seniors, and we are firmly committed to celebrating the Class of 2020 and their achievements at a later date.