West Chester U Plans Spring With Caution, Accommodates Students

WEST CHESTER, PA — Following a student townhall meeting Monday and some parents calling for reconsideration of the university's plans for the Spring 2021 semester, West Chester University released a statement Monday.

The university has been functioning virtually with limited in-person hybrid instruction for all of the fall semester. It announced in late September its intention to remain in this mode into spring, and it explained the ways it is accommodating student needs as the pandemic continues.

"West Chester University understands students' frustrations with the pandemic and the measures that have been put in place to protect its community of 17,719 students and their families; 1,919 faculty and staff; and the many neighbors who live in our surrounding community. The University held a Student Town Hall today to speak with students and their families, respond to questions, and discuss plans for the semester ahead," the university's statement said.

"Protecting the health and safety of WCU’s educational community will always be a priority. With the nation continuing to see dramatic spikes in new COVID-19 cases every day following scientists’ predictions, West Chester University is taking extra precautions to protect the community from the newest wave of the virus by continuing remote and some hybrid (meaning both remote and in-person) academic instruction through the spring semester."

A group of West Chester University parents last week planned a demonstration during the townhall, asking the university to consider more in-class instruction in spring. The university made the announcement about its intentions to give students and their families time to plan accordingly as course selection and preparation for the next semester began in recent weeks. Some parent thought it was too soon to make that call, and they say student learning has suffered in the virtual instruction model in place.

The university stayed with its decision, making accommodations for concerns that are arising around the pandemic's instructional adjustments. "The University will continue to provide COVID-19 relief credits to both in-state and out-of-state students, full-time and part-time, for spring 2021, which will lower the total combined costs of tuition and fees," the university said today.

The statement explained, "On average, for a full-time in-state undergraduate student, the total combined costs of tuition and fees for spring 2021 will be reduced from $5,235 to $4,666, a savings of 11 percent. On average, for full-time out-of-state undergraduate students, the total combined costs of tuition and fees for spring 2021 will be reduced from $11,147 to $8,649, a savings of 22 percent."

"Remote learning is varied at WCU and is not 'one size fits all,'" the university said. At the onset of the pandemic, WCU developed new strategies and tools to help students stay on track to meet academic requirements. These include:

• A comprehensive technology lending program has been developed that includes providing laptops, webcams, and mobile hotspots for students without access to Broadband Internet
• Remote student support has been enhanced through the University’s Student Success Coordinators and Student Success Coaches
• Online training modules focus on assisting students with the transition from in-person classes to remote learning
• Student support services are conducted via remote delivery, including additional tutoring and supplemental instruction for specific courses
• Home access for students is provided via key software providers
• Increased advising outreach is provided by faculty to support student success, and
• Library services are delivered remotely, including the mailing of library materials to students’ homes.

The university's online presence has been increased in order to be available to students and includes:

• Utilization of chat boxes on key high-traffic websites
• Launch of a Support Center, a one-stop location for students to receive answers to questions related to services and support located at wcupa.edu/support

• Open “study hall” sessions where students can drop in and talk to a tutor or success coach

• Checks are made to see about D2L utilization in order to conduct outreach to students whose attendance has dropped in remote courses
• Self check-in survey that was distributed to all undergraduate students to find out how students think they're doing in their courses this semester and if they want someone to reach out to them for more information.

The university said it has extended its promise to current undergraduate students through the spring semester. Undergraduate students taking 12 credits in the spring will be able to take an additional 6 credits in any of the three summer 2021 sessions without being charged tuition.

Similarly, undergraduate students taking 15 credits in the spring will be able to take an additional 3 credits any of the three summer 2021 sessions without being charged tuition. Prior to registering for a course, students can see the delivery format for the course and then choose accordingly.

The university said faculty have considered not only that students learn in a variety of ways, but also that access and equity can look very different in an online environment and become increasingly complicated when students are no longer on campus.

"WCU professors embrace principles of quality instructional design and active learning in their daily lessons whether they are teaching in a face-to-face or remote learning environment."