| COVID-19 Information |
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| YOUR NEW COUG EXPERIENCE |
As a land-grant institution, Washington State University has a particularly critical role to serve our students and the communities in which our campuses reside. The situation around COVID-19 is unprecedented, fluid, and its impacts are worldwide. We will share decisions as they are made and provide guidance based on information from federal, state, and local health department officials.
For many of our students, our Pullman campus is their home. We will continue to serve and provide opportunities for all our Pullman students.
WSU will continue to provide the educational opportunities needed to keep students on their way to graduation.
Please recognize that we are facing a public health crisis that has the potential to disproportionately impact people from marginalized, rural, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, our first-generation students, and people with existing health conditions.
We know you have questions and we don’t have answers for many of them yet. We are making decisions based on the advice and guidance of federal, state, and local government agencies. Below are some of the things you need to know now.
Be safe, and as always, Go Cougs!
Mary Jo Gonzales
Vice President of Student Affairs |
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| What are your plans? |
| Please tell us by filling out the Post Spring Break Plans form here. |
| How long will classes be online? |
| Classes at WSU Pullman will remain online through the end of the spring 2020 semester. Each of our WSU campus locations will make their decisions based on the advice and guidance of federal, state, and local government agencies. |
| What will be available to students on the WSU Pullman campus? |
Residential, dining, and health care facilities will remain open on the WSU Pullman campus. Food pantries will still be accessible.
Transportation, recreation facilities, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the Compton Union Building, and study spaces will also remain open and operational at this time. Any changes will be posted on facility webpages.
Students in our residence halls will receive communication directly from Residence Hall staff. Per our usual policy, if the student continues living in the residence halls and has purchased a Residential Dining Account (RDA) plan for the upcoming semester, unused RDA dollars will roll over to the next semester.
Distance delivery of courses enables social distancing. Students should make choices that are appropriate for their academic and social needs. The CDC provides direction on healthy habits such as handwashing and avoiding large gatherings and people who are sick.
WSU Pullman custodial staff use COVID-19 sanitation guidelines from the CDC and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) for routine cleaning and increased cleaning in high use locations and our residential facilities.
If students choose not to return to Pullman, they should notify appropriate contacts such as employers, coaches, advisors, residence life staff (if living on campus), etc. Faculty and staff are prepared to work with and advise students at a distance. |
| What about events? |
In order to observe cautions around large gatherings and social distancing, Mom’s Weekend 2020 is canceled.
A decision regarding WSU Pullman’s May 9 Commencement will be made closer to the event date.
Event organizers are making decisions on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration current CDC and local health authority recommendations. Decisions will be posted on event specific pages and communicated with registrants/ticketholders. |
| Will technology devices and tools be made available for students who need them? |
Learning Innovations has a Student Guide for distance delivery, with resources to help students successfully complete courses delivered remotely through Blackboard Learn and other academic technology.
The Office of the Provost is exploring a student computer loan program that would make a limited number of computers available for use for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Students who are interested in the potential program should fill out the Computer Loan Interest form. This form will be used to estimate demand. Submitting the form does not mean that a student must participate, and not completing it does not make a student ineligible to participate. If the program is implemented, information about participation and guidelines will be sent via WSU email accounts. |
| How will proctored exam fees be handled? |
| Students enrolled in classes originating in WSU Pullman will not be billed for proctoring. The Office of the Provost is working with faculty to implement testing processes. |
| What about labs and courses that need to be done in-person? |
The Office of the Provost and college deans are communicating with students regarding their specific academic situations via their WSU email account.
Faculty are aware of courses with unique needs and requirements (e.g. ROTC, veterans, clinical rotations) and are working with deans to make individual accommodations or exceptions. |
| What does this mean for students who have a disability and are registered with the Access Center? |
| Students who currently have an accommodation plan with the Access Center should reach out to their access advisor to discuss if changes are necessary. |
| How does this impact academic advising? |
| If a student has already scheduled an appointment with their academic advisor, they should plan to keep the appointment. Their academic advisor will initiate contact by phone unless plans have been made directly to conduct the appointment by email or through Zoom. |
| How will distance learning affect student employment on campus? |
| Students will receive direct communication from their supervisors. |
| Who should students contact if they have a personal situation not covered by the questions above that needs to be addressed directly? |
| Students should feel free to reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students for any specific concerns at deanofstudents@wsu.edu. |
