Hilary L. Link – President
March 11, 2020 at 6:14pm
As we watch the rapidly changing impact of the COVID-19 virus throughout the world, Allegheny joins many other colleges in evaluating how our campus should be responding to protect the health and safety of our community while delivering the high-quality education that is the core of our mission.
While there are no cases of COVID-19 at Allegheny College or in Crawford County, we know there are confirmed cases in Pennsylvania and in the neighboring states of Ohio and New York. Out of an abundance of caution, Allegheny College will modify operations in the following way:
- Spring Break will be extended through Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
- Beginning Wednesday, March 25, 2020, Allegheny College will temporarily conduct all classes through remote instruction.
- We anticipate that in-person classes will resume on Monday, March 30, 2020. The College will continue to monitor the situation and will keep you informed of any updates.
- While we recognize that traditionally the College has not closed for Spring Break, this year we are expecting that students leave campus if possible. Students are expected to leave campus by Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 5 p.m. and will not be able to return until Saturday, March 28, 2020, at 8 a.m. Students who have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from leaving campus or accessing remote education must complete the Spring Break 2020 Form. Permission to be present on campus will be made on a case-by-case basis.
- We are restricting College-sponsored non-essential travel, effective immediately. Students and employees should contact their Administrative Executive Committee (AEC) member or the Dean of Students Office with questions.
- The College will continue to operate; the campus will remain open, and all faculty and staff are expected to report to work as usual. Employees should refer to the Allegheny COVID-19 website for more information.
While we recognize that a number of high-profile institutions around the country have moved exclusively to online at this point, in consultation with local officials and experts, and through in-depth analysis of the current local situation, we believe this is the right decision for the College in this moment. We reiterate that as the national and global situation evolves, we will continue to ask serious questions and analyze available data and will, if needed, adjust our plans to best protect our students, the College and the local community while continuing to educate our students to the level they and we expect.
Please review and pay careful attention to the following information:
Temporary Transition to Remote Delivery of Courses
Classes will resume remotely Wednesday, March 25, 2020. We expect that in-person classes will resume on campus beginning Monday, March 30, 2020. Faculty should be in touch with students via email to share further details regarding their course plans for March 25, 2020, through March 27, 2020. Students should check their Allegheny email account regularly. The College is asking students who have concerns about accessing the internet to complete this form.
Housing and Dining
When students return to campus on March 28, 2020, their housing assignments and meal plans will remain in place. Students may leave their belongings in their rooms over the extended break, but are encouraged to take class-related items that are needed to continue studies remotely.
Housing selection night for College-owned houses will be moved to April 1, 2020, at 5 p.m. and Senior (SR) selection night will begin at 6 p.m. on April 1, 2020.
Travel Guidelines for Students, Faculty, Staff, and Visitors
At this time, the College is restricting non-essential Allegheny-sponsored travel for students, faculty and staff. Employees are encouraged to work with their Administrative Executive Committee (AEC) member to evaluate upcoming essential Allegheny-sponsored travel.
In the interest of the safety and well-being of our campus community, we are requiring all students, faculty, and staff to register any essential College-sponsored travel, both domestic and international, by providing us with your date(s) of travel and destination(s). The travel registration form can be found here.
In an effort to promote the health and well being of our entire community, we ask students, faculty, staff, and visitors to be respectful and not travel to campus if they are ill or have traveled to any CDC-restricted area.
Athletics
We continue to follow the lead of the NCAA and NCAC regarding athletics events and conference competitions and will provide updates if new information becomes available.
Student-athletes and staff should consult with Athletics regarding schedules and other procedures.
Meetings, Events, and Gatherings
Non-essential events through March 27, 2020, are canceled. Again, refer questions about essential events to your AEC member.
Registration
Registration for Fall 2020 classes will continue as planned. Registration for continuing seniors starts on Monday, April 6. An e-mail from the Registrar will be forthcoming. Please look for the usual communications about advising from your advisor(s).
Internships / Health Coaches / Community Partner Placements
Students serving with community organizations or agencies should consult with their internship coordinator, instructor, and/or site supervisor about the possibility of continuing internship or community-engaged work remotely. Faculty internship coordinators should work closely with student interns to help with continuity as best as possible.
Spring 2020 Study Away Programs
Students currently enrolled in off-campus study away programs will continue to be updated by the International Education (IE) Office in the Gateway. IE is in close contact with the study away program providers and universities that are hosting Allegheny students, and we will rely on their assessment of local risks and guidance, as well as CDC updates.
Financial Aid
The temporary transition to remote delivery of courses will not affect financial aid.
Risk Prevention Guidelines
The best protection from the spread of any virus, including the flu and COVID-19, is through everyday preventive actions, including the following:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Cough into your elbow if you do not have a tissue.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. This includes your cell phone and computer keyboards and mice.
We understand that these decisions will impact our community, but we believe these measures are necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our campus community while continuing the important mission of educating our students. We will actively monitor developments in this rapidly changing situation, and we will continue to provide updates to the community.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your understanding and flexibility during this challenging time.
President Hilary L. Link