Shippensburg University announced today, its plan to return to campus for the fall 2020 semester. The University is operating with a revised academic calendar to avoid students departing and the returning to campus after Thanksgiving break. Classes will begin on August 17 with in-person instruction and concluding November 20. A November 23 and 24 study break will be followed by virtual exams the week of November 30 to December 4, 2020.
Students will experience a classroom setting with in-person instruction that meets the needs of students and faculty who, according to State System guidelines, require accommodations for them to learn and teach remotely.
The university is preparing for a return to residence life by opening residence halls and dining halls.
During the fall semester, students, faculty and staff will be required to wear face covering and maintain sanitizing habits and social distancing measures throughout campus. Signage and visual markers (such as floor decals) will remind everyone of the importance of these safety measures.
Additionally, hand sanitizing stations are being installed throughout campus, and staff will be cleaning and disinfecting on an enhanced schedule.
Plans for campus operations will adjust as local conditions change and are updated according to state (PA DOH, PDE, and PASSHE) and federal guidance (CDC). Additionally, the university is making the investments needed to implement the appropriate health and mitigation protocols, technology, faculty and staff support, and student success and access.
In the coming weeks, the university will communicate to employees and students the process for returning to campus. The Navigating to Fall 2020 (https://fall2020.shipnews.org/) website will serve as an information hub for the plan to return and the campus community is encouraged to check it routinely.