Dear Campus Community:

Congratulations, we made it through to this part of the semester through collective effort and diligence of students, faculty and staff in adhering to the guidelines set forth by health experts. This success did not come easy, but through perseverance, teamwork and with care for the Ship community, we did it. Our goal has always been to provide students with the on-campus experience they need for academic success while mitigating the impact of COVID-19. By working together, we have accomplished that goal.

As students prepare to return home for the holidays, and faculty and staff look to safely spend time with families, out of an abundance of caution for our campus community and Ship students’ families, we are winding down certain activities. Our plan supports a successful end to our face-to-face semester while protecting the families and communities to which students will return.

Students:

  • Beginning Saturday, November 14
    • Campus will provide reduced services to all students.
    • Dining services will be available for residence hall students at the CUB and Reisner during posted hours.
    • Off campus (commuter) students may access Kriner Hall for Grab-n-go options only.
    • Lehman Library will remain open for in person access from 7:15 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. through November 20 and 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from November 30 – December 4. Virtual services are available through December 4. See https://library.ship.edu/blog/Library-Services-Thanksgiving-and-Finals-Weeks for additional information.
    • The computer lab in MCT 054 will remain open for computer software and printing access 24 hours a day through December 4 and winter break.
    • ShipRec will be closed starting the morning of Saturday November 14. To encourage more social distancing, basketball courts will not be available.
    • Stay tuned for information from the bookstore about fall 2020 book returns.
  • Beginning Monday, November 16, all coursework will be moved to online for the final weeks of the fall semester ending on December 4.
  • Etter Health Center will remain open and may be accessed by all students during posted hours. Please call for an appointment (717) 477-1458 to get tested at least 72 hours in advance of returning home.
  • To better mitigate the virus, on campus students should refrain from attending off campus gatherings.
  • The spring 2021 undergraduate registration window has been extended to 4:00 p.m. Monday, November 16. If you have questions regarding the registration process, please check out the Preparing for Registration section of the Registrar’s Office Website.

Faculty:

  • Beginning November 16, all coursework will be moved to online for the final weeks of the fall semester ending on December 4. Faculty members are encouraged to reach out to students to provide necessary course information to help them through the remainder of the semester.
  • Lehman Library will remain open for in person access from 7:15 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. through November 20 and 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from November 30 – December 4. Virtual services are available through December 4. See https://library.ship.edu/blog/Library-Services-Thanksgiving-and-Finals-Weeks for additional information.

Staff:

  • Consulting with division Vice Presidents, units will begin to phase in their winter remote work plans on November 16.

Since our last communication, the spike in COVID-19 positive cases in the Unites States and Pennsylvania has continued to rise. In our region, the positivity rate is particularly high in nearby Franklin County. The most recent positive cases at Shippensburg University have been clustered around off-campus activities.

We are here to finish the semester strong and to ensure the health and well-being of our community. Good luck to students in finishing coursework and preparing for finals. We remind everyone to please continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, wash hands frequently, check symptoms and refrain from gatherings. Students, we urge you to make an appointment at Etter Health Center to get tested before leaving for home to help protect your families and your community.

Thank you for contributing to a successful fall on campus.

Tom Ormond, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

and

Scott Barton, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance