Important Updates - April 27

Summer semester is upon us and we are writing to share academic programming updates and the resources available as a Clarkson College student. Please review the following information and join us at our Student Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 28 with College leadership:

  • Summer semester begins as scheduled and published within the 2019/2020 Academic Catalog.  
  • Online courses continue as planned. 
  • On-Campus Theory courses will take place online throughout the summer semester ending on August 7, 2020. Follow instructor guidelines for lecture times via Zoom/Microsoft Teams that may be held during regularly scheduled class times. Test proctoring by faculty may also occur on-campus for major exams per instructor guidelines.? 
  • Essential labs deemed necessary through academic program requirements will continue to be held on campus at the start of the summer semester. 
  • After midterms, ALL labs will plan to return to an on-campus face-to-face format starting Monday, June 29, 2020.
  • Clinical rotations will be completed per program availability.Students will need to work with program directors and clinical coordinators for details
  • When hands-on activities are being performed, students and faculty should use protective masks and increased sanitation practices.  
  • Testing Center services will remain open on campus with limited testers in the space and extended hours on Saturdays through the summer semester. Protective masks will be required by all testers. Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor will continue to be available for all courses.   
  • Summer graduation ceremony is planned for August 8, 2020. If state and federal guidelines do not allow for large gatherings to take place, the College will communicate alternative plans. 
  • Health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is our number one priority. Thus, please note on-campus plans are subject to change. 
  • Increased infection control procedures on campus will remain in place until further notice. Please do not come to campus if you have answered yes to either of the following questions and please fill out the self-quarantine form online:  
  1. Have you come into close contact (within 6’) with someone who has a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past 14 days without use of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
  2. Do you have any of the following symptoms: a fever of 100.4 F degrees higher, chills, cough, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing? 

Fall Semester (FA 2020) 

  • Fall semester is planned to begin as scheduled per the published Academic Calendar. 
  • Health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is our number one priority. The College will determine if there will be any changes to Fall academic programming or campus access by the end of the summer semester.  

Student Financial Assistance 

  • Clarkson College Student Financial Crisis Fund is available to all students to apply who are suffering financially due to the COVID19 pandemic. Students should apply for financial assistance if you are struggling due to loss of income, childcare changes, medical bills..etc. and you need assistance to help survive during this unprecedented time. More information is located at: http://l4qv.051857.com/coronavirus/student-resources/ 
  • CARES ACT: The CARES Act provides funding to institutions of higher education across the country to assist students who are impacted financially by the COVID 19 pandemic (excluding students enrolled in only online courses prior to coronavirus).  The CARES Act and applicable guidance from the U.S. Department of Education dictates how institutions must administer these funds.  Clarkson College is currently reviewing the guidance and is determining how funds will be disbursed. More information will be provided to students in a future email. 
  • Tuition rate increase eliminated for the 2020/2021 academic year to ease student financial burden during the pandemic. Although the planned increase was minimal, the College continues to examine all operational costs to ease the financial burden on students. 

Campus Access & Services 

  • All College offices remain open so students may access academic resources. This includes the Library, Testing Center, Interprofessional Learning Center and Success Center. 
  • Student access to campus resources and facilities will remain open by use of your Student ID Badge at all entry points. 
  • Testing Center services will remain available on-campus, with extended testing hours on Saturdays. 
  • Increased infection control procedures will remain in place on campus until further notice. 
  • The Residence Hall on campus remains open only to current student residents living on campus and faculty who office there. 

Student Volunteer Opportunities 

  • Students can choose to volunteer your expertise if/when called upon during this pandemic. Clarkson College has created a form, working with the Student Government Association (SGA), to organize volunteer efforts. If you choose to be a part of the volunteer effort if called upon, please review more information and fill out the form available at http://l4qv.051857.com/volunteer/ 

 

Thank you for choosing the path of health care for your future. You are part of something special and your role is important. You are the future heroes, and there is no time to slow down now, because the world needs you! For our students already serving in critical roles during this pandemic, we thank you and are so proud of the work you unselfishly do each and every day.  

Sincerely,

Dr. Aubray Orduña
Interim President of Clarkson College