Fall 2020 FAQs

According to current F-1 visa regulations, first-year students are not permitted to take remote coursework while in the U.S. It would be best to defer your enrollment until January 2021.

First-year students can take remote coursework  but you would not be activated in SEVIS until you enter the U.S. In other words, you would not be eligible to have your active visa status until you are able to return to the U.S. and study on campus and in person. It might be best to defer your enrollment until January 2021. 

OR

If you are living in China, Vietnam or South Korea, we invite you to begin your Dickinson education in-country through special Dickinson partnership arrangements:

• Dickinson in Beijing
• Dickinson in Shanghai
• Dickinson in Ho Chi Minh City
• Dickinson in Seoul

We anticipate being able to continue offering programs and services with appropriate modifications for the circumstances. Each office and center will have updated information on their websites.

We hope to have all students back in the spring, if it is safe to do so. We will continue monitoring the course of the pandemic.

Virtual Orientation offerings will continue through the summer and into the fall. It is recommended that you join these opportunities to connect with classmates and college staff. Other opportunities will be made available throughout the semester, and your classes will also provide an opportunity. While this is not what any of us had hoped for, if we had returned to campus, the experience would have been dramatically different and would not have allowed for a residential experience that included easy gatherings and deep interaction.

In additional to the Virtual Orientation offerings mentioned in the previous question, Sarah Masland-Fatheree, director of parent relations, will provide updates and information during the semester and will continue to be available to parents of all enrolled students as questions and concerns arise.

Your First-Year Seminar professor will also be your academic advisor, so there is a natural connection between your seminar and getting to know this faculty member throughout the fall semester. We recommend being intentional with class engagement, using virtual office hours throughout the semester, and participating in other options presented by your professors.

Online courses at another college or university are not approved for transfer credit to Dickinson. That’s because our remote experience is very different from what others provide, offering close faculty-student interaction, small class sizes and expert faculty dedicated to an individualized experience. For additional information: https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20088/registrars_office/219/policy_faqs/4

If you defer your enrollment until January 2021, then you will still be considered as a member of the class of 2024. If you are not bringing any outside credits such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate, then you will need to complete additional courses in another semester or during the summer to complete your degree program and graduate in May 2024.

We hope that you would reconsider, given that we have made this decision in the best interests of your health and safety during this unprecedented time. If you wish to move forward, please email admissions@dickinson.edu and provide your full name and reason for withdrawing and your request will be processed. If you are uncertain about whether you should withdraw your enrollment or defer your enrollment, please contact admissions@dickinson.edu and we will schedule a conversation to discuss your questions and options.

Given the course of the pandemic, our faculty designed their fall courses understanding that we may have to move to remote learning at any time. They have spent the summer making sure that these courses are challenging, feature individualized attention and extensive interaction, and will build understanding and foster relationships.

The cost of attendance for the fall semester accounts for a technology allowance of $733. If your required technology expenses are higher than this amount, please reach out to finaid@dickinson.edu.  Additional information on accessing these funds will be forthcoming.

Please complete this form and we can discuss your circumstances.

Based on current guidance, minimizing the number of in-person contacts for housing and dining will assist with minimizing the exposure risk.

As a current student who has not been approved to be in college housing, it will not be permissible to be on campus for any reason at this time.

Students who have already completed their summer advising session are welcome to schedule a follow-up appointment, if needed or wanted, and will receive a message outlining follow-up session availability. Questions should be directed to summeradvising@dickinson.edu.

Yes. Incoming first year students and transfer students may opt to delay their start through the deferral process. Deferral requests may be made for a semester or for entire academic year. If you are still thinking about requesting to defer, please submit your request as soon as possible and be prepared to have a phone follow-up with a member of the Admissions staff. The updated deadline to request a deferral is Aug. 10.

Taking courses remotely is meant to keep students at home.  We do not allow students to live off campus, and we strongly discourage students leasing space in Carlisle.  This is not solely due to our four-year residency requirement, but also to help protect the Carlisle community. 

The Bookstore textbook portal will open on Aug. 3 (https://eposweb-325.sequoiars.com/). Textbooks (new, used, rental and e-books) will be available for purchase, and the Bookstore will offer free shipping on all domestic and international textbook orders. Not all textbook information is available at this time. We are currently still receiving orders from various faculty as they make their textbook selections for their class.

Students arriving to campus for the fall semester, and students who have lived on campus this summer and are relocating to a new space, will be asked to restrict their movement for 14 days following move-in.

During this 14-day restricted movement period, students should remain in their residences, except when needing to pick up food on campus or attend in-person medical appointments. Students may spend time outside as long as safety guidelines are followed, which include wearing a face covering outdoors if they are unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from individuals with whom they do not reside (i.e., who are not members of their household). If students require additional necessities (e.g., groceries and/or over-the-counter health supplies/medication) during these first 14 days, they can purchase these online from local stores and the college can arrange to have them picked up and delivered via the safety shuttle at predetermined times.

While classes will still begin on August 17, the fall 2020 Academic Calendar has been adjusted to include the standard two-day fall pause, October 5 and 6. The full updated calendar can be found at https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20027/academics/3047/2020-2021_academic_calendar.

Ventilation 

Most modern systems have been designed to provide a specific quantity of air changes per hour (exchange rate) based on the type of space. Labs range from 4 to 12, offices/classrooms are 2 to 3 and bathrooms are 5 to 10. This exchange is accomplished by having dedicated exhaust systems or by introducing outside air into the building airstream. Our older facilities and small houses do not have direct mechanical make up and rely more on infiltration to introduce fresh air. 

To ensure a safe campus environment, facilities management maintenance staff will closely monitor the performance of building air handling units daily via the automated controls program. Due to the concern surrounding COVID-19, more detailed in-person spot checking will also occur, especially in those buildings without these controls.

Where possible, facilities management will be increasing air exchange rates to maximize the amount of fresh air. This will be accomplished by disabling demand-controlled ventilation and opening outdoor air dampers as outdoor conditions permit. Additionally, filters will be inspected and replaced with higher efficiency ones where equipment age and configuration allow. 

Windows

It will be possible to open windows in most locations, but please pay attention to the outside air temperature and humidity conditions. On very hot and humid days, introducing too much warm air will make it difficult for the mechanical systems to maintain building set-points. This could result in environmental hazards such as mold and mildew. Ideally, acceptable outdoor air temperatures should be between 50 and 60 degrees to open windows. Humidity levels should be less than 60%. Windows should be closed when spaces are unoccupied.

Bathrooms

All bathrooms have some type of exhaust system either as part of a building-wide system or individually. While it may be tempting to open windows in bathrooms, this practice is not recommended as air exchange may be reduced due to short cycled air flow patterns.

The office of Strategies, Organization, and Achievement Resources (SOAR) has created this webpage: www.dickinson.edu/SOAR which includes a vast array of academic success-related tips, apps, and other resources for students, including links to learn more about peer tutoring, advising, and the academic success workshops provided by the Center for Advising, Internship, and Lifelong Career Development. 

SOAR has also created guidance specific to adapting to the remote learning environment: Time Management and Academic Success and Social, Emotional, and Mental Wellness. Additionally, the Wellness Center has on their website a variety of online resources for maintaining physical and mental health, including a COVID-19 Resources page.

While courses are being delivered remotely, students of all levels, abilities, and majors can still access the peer tutoring support of the Norman M. Eberly Multilingual Writing Center (MWC) and the Quantitative Reasoning Center (QR Center). The MWC provides tutoring for writers working on essays in English and ten foreign languages. The QR Center provides tutoring for students working on quantitative problems in any field of study. Students can make an appointment with a writing or quantitative reasoning tutor using the WCONLINE scheduler. All appointments are conducted synchronously in Zoom.      

Starting Aug. 31, the Bookstore and Devil’s Den will operate with limited hours for on-campus students and personnel. 

• Bookstore - Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
• Devils Den – Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Starting August 17th, the Bookstore and Devils Den will operate with limited hours for on-campus students and personnel. 

• Bookstore - Monday -Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
• Devils Den - Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm

Hard Drive:

• 128GB (250GB or higher recommended)

RAM: 

• 8GB or higher strongly recommended

Processor:

• 8th generation Intel Core i5 OR 9th or 10th generation Core i3 or equivalent processor (9th generation or 10th generation Intel Core i5 Processor or equivalent recommended)

Operating System:

• Windows 10 or macOS 10.13 or later required 

Communications:

• Web camera, microphone and speakers or audio headset
• Smartphone/tablet capable of running iOS or Android apps

Internet Connection:

• Wired or wireless internet service capable of reliable video streaming

Yes. You can get a parking permit by visiting the Department of Public Safety. For the fall semester only, the permit will be free of charge.

Please contact reslife@dickinson.edu to make an appointment. Residence Life & Housing will need 24 hours’ notice to schedule your appointment to minimize traffic at the storage locations.

A current Dickinson student (class of 2021, 2022 or 2023) who chooses not to return for the fall semester must either request a leave of absence or withdraw from the college. Requests for leaves of absence should be sent to Angie Harris at harrisa@dickinson.edu.

Yes, please contact Angie Harris at harrisa@dickinson.edu to have your leave rescinded.

Please complete this form and we can discuss your circumstances.

Based on current guidance, minimizing the number of in-person contacts for housing and dining will assist with minimizing the exposure risk.

Please complete this form and we can discuss your circumstances.  Situations will be reviewed on a case by case basis, as we will be doing our best to limit the number of students on campus.

Departments will determine if changes are needed to their course offerings, and revisions to the schedule will be posted as soon as that information is available.  First-year students will still enter their initial course requests from July 20-27.  Schedule Adjustment will open for first-year students on August 6.  The Add/Drop Period for all students will open August 12.

We anticipate being able to continue offering programs and services with appropriate modifications for the circumstances. Each office and center will have updated information on their websites.

We hope to have all students back in the spring, if it is safe to do so. We will continue monitoring the course of the pandemic.

Given the course of the pandemic, our faculty designed their fall courses understanding that we may have to move to remote learning at any time. They have spent the summer making sure that these courses are challenging, feature individualized attention and extensive interaction, and will build understanding and foster relationships.

As the return to on-campus teaching in January 2021 will be assessed during the fall, so too will be the opportunity for students to study abroad in various domestic and international locations. The health and safety of our students is our priority.

Most visits are happening virtually. There are limited in-person tours happening. For additional information, visit our Visit page.

Residence Life & Housing will review this as we get into the fall semester, as we monitor the pandemic.

Yes, unless you can waive the requirement with comparable insurance coverage by August 31, 2020. Appropriate medical insurance helps to protect students from interruptions to their academic progress due to unexpected medical bills and continues to be a requirement during remote coursework for all students located in the United States.    

For International students, insurance is not required if studying in their home country, but insurance coverage is required for International students studying on campus or if they have a U.S. address listed as their permanent residence; they will be billed for the insurance. If you have questions regarding the student health insurance, please contact our insurance administrator:  RCM&D, Tim Cummons at 1-800-346-4075 ext. 1452.

According to the March 13, 2020, COVID-19 guidance released by SEVP, returning, current active-status students are permitted to take remote coursework and remain in “active status.”

According to the March 13, 2020, COVID-19 guidance released by SEVP, returning, current active-status students are permitted to take remote coursework and remain in “active status.” 

Yes, you may stay on campus and do all online classes. According to the March 13, 2020, COVID-19 guidance released by SEVP, returning, current active-status students are permitted to take remote coursework and remain in “active status.”

Taking courses remotely is meant to keep students at home.  We do not allow students to live off campus, and we strongly discourage students leasing space in Carlisle.  This is not solely due to our four-year residency requirement, but also to help protect the Carlisle community. 

The Bookstore textbook portal will open on August 3rd (https://eposweb-325.sequoiars.com/). Textbooks (new, used, rental and e-books) will be available for purchase and the Bookstore will offer free shipping on all domestic and international textbook orders. Not all textbook information is available at this time. We are currently still receiving orders from various faculty as they make their textbook selections for their class.

Students arriving to campus for the fall semester, and students who have lived on campus this summer and are relocating to a new space, will be asked to restrict their movement for 14 days following move-in.

During this 14-day restricted movement period, students should remain in their residences, except when needing to pick up food on campus or attend in-person medical appointments. Students may spend time outside as long as safety guidelines are followed, which include wearing a face covering outdoors if they are unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from individuals with whom they do not reside (i.e., who are not members of their household). If students require additional necessities (e.g., groceries and/or over-the-counter health supplies/medication) during these first 14 days, they can purchase these online from local stores and the college can arrange to have them picked up and delivered via the safety shuttle at predetermined times.

While classes will still begin on August 17, the fall 2020 Academic Calendar has been adjusted to include the standard two-day fall pause, October 5 and 6. The full updated calendar can be found at https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20027/academics/3047/2020-2021_academic_calendar.

Ventilation 

Most modern systems have been designed to provide a specific quantity of air changes per hour (exchange rate) based on the type of space. Labs range from 4 to 12, offices/classrooms are 2 to 3 and bathrooms are 5 to 10. This exchange is accomplished by having dedicated exhaust systems or by introducing outside air into the building airstream. Our older facilities and small houses do not have direct mechanical make up and rely more on infiltration to introduce fresh air. 

To ensure a safe campus environment, facilities management maintenance staff will closely monitor the performance of building air handling units daily via the automated controls program. Due to the concern surrounding COVID-19, more detailed in-person spot checking will also occur, especially in those buildings without these controls.

Where possible, facilities management will be increasing air exchange rates to maximize the amount of fresh air. This will be accomplished by disabling demand-controlled ventilation and opening outdoor air dampers as outdoor conditions permit. Additionally, filters will be inspected and replaced with higher efficiency ones where equipment age and configuration allow. 

Windows

It will be possible to open windows in most locations, but please pay attention to the outside air temperature and humidity conditions. On very hot and humid days, introducing too much warm air will make it difficult for the mechanical systems to maintain building set-points. This could result in environmental hazards such as mold and mildew. Ideally, acceptable outdoor air temperatures should be between 50 and 60 degrees to open windows. Humidity levels should be less than 60%. Windows should be closed when spaces are unoccupied.

Bathrooms

All bathrooms have some type of exhaust system either as part of a building-wide system or individually. While it may be tempting to open windows in bathrooms, this practice is not recommended as air exchange may be reduced due to short cycled air flow patterns.

The amount credited to your account for room and board last spring will be applied to your fall semester tuition charges.  If you are not returning for the fall semester then your credit balance will be applied to your spring semester charges.

The office of Strategies, Organization and Achievement Resources (SOAR) has created a webpage (www.dickinson.edu/SOAR) that includes a vast array of academic success-related tips, apps and other resources for students. There you’ll also find these two new SOAR pages created to provide supports specific to the remote learning environment: Time Management and Academic Success and Social, Emotional, and Mental Wellness. The Wellness Center also has a variety of online resources for maintaining physical and mental health on their website, including a COVID-19 Resources page.

Yes, the College Bookstore is open for online orders. While campus is closed to visitors, we are still processing your online orders. Please order early as there may be shipping delays. Thank you for your continued support.  Please stay safe and be well!  

Personnel are available to answer direct inquiries Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 

Please call 1-800-582-5436. 

Starting August 17th, the Bookstore and Devils Den will operate with limited hours for on-campus students and personnel. 

• Bookstore - Monday -Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
• Devils Den - Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm

Hard Drive:

• 128GB (250GB or higher recommended)

RAM: 

• 8GB or higher strongly recommended

Processor:

• 8th generation Intel Core i5 OR 9th or 10th generation Core i3 or equivalent processor (9th generation or 10th generation Intel Core i5 Processor or equivalent recommended)

Operating System:

• Windows 10 or macOS 10.13 or later required 

Communications:

• Web camera, microphone and speakers or audio headset
• Smartphone/tablet capable of running iOS or Android apps

Internet Connection:

• Wired or wireless internet service capable of reliable video streaming

Yes. Mail Services is open for shipping, receiving and Package Pick up Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mail leaves for the Post Office at 3:30 p.m. daily. Packages shipped via UPS or FedEx must arrive at the Mail Center no later than 3 p.m. for same-day pickup.

The college will open the Kline Fitness Center on Aug. 31 to students who have been approved to remain on campus for the fall semester as well as current members of the faculty and staff. Users will be required to reserve an appointment online for a 45-minute workout time slot. All individuals will be asked to show their symptoms tracking “Green Dot” result prior to entry. All users must complete a new online Kline Center Fitness Center orientation process prior to reserving a workout time slot, even if they have completed it previously. Detailed information will be posted on the Athletics webpage soon.

No. 

Yes. If you had a permit last year, you can continue to use that permit for the fall semester without taking any action. If you are bringing a car for the first time you can get a permit from the Department of Public Safety and it is free for the fall semester.

Yes, by appointment only during normal business hours Monday-Friday. We request at least 48 hours’ notice to arrange a driver. You can request a ride by filling out the form found on the Department of Public Safety’s transportation webpage:  https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20247/department_of_public_safety/874/transportation.

Students working remotely from an approved state will be paid the minimum wage of the state where the work is being performed. In some cases, approved states may have a higher minimum wage than the normal pay rate for the department. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), in cases where an employee is subject to both state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage. Given this differential, students will not all work the same number of hours before they reach their student employment limit. Note that the minimum wage rate reflects, to a great extent, the cost-of-living for each particular state, and this economic reality dictates why wage differentials exist.

For a student eligible for Federal Work Study, a work study award is specified as part of their Financial Aid package. When the student reaches the maximum earnings allocated as part of the Financial Aid package, the student’s work assignment(s) will come to an end for all jobs and departments where they are employed.

For a student being paid as part of the Institutional Work Study program, the work study award will be a set amount of $1,250 per semester. When the student reaches the maximum earnings allocated as part of their Institutional Work Study assignment(s), the student’s work assignment(s) will come to an end for all jobs and departments where they are employed.

During the fall 2020 semester, A-F grading will be in place. Faculty will have the option of moving their course(s) to pass/fail only. That information will be posted in Banner as a course attribute prior to the start of the semester. All students (including first semester first-year students) have the option of choosing pass/fail grading for any or all of their courses by submitting a pass/fail form available on the Registrar’s website no later than 4 p.m. EDT, Friday, October 9.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• In order to receive a passing grade (PA), students need to earn the equivalent of a C or better. Anything below a C will receive a failing grade (FA) and not earn credit for the class.
• Courses taken on a pass/fail basis in Fall 2020 can count toward graduation, major, minor or certificate requirements.
• Pass/Fail grades from the Fall 2020 semester do not count against the normal limit of four pass/fail courses during a student's career at Dickinson.
• Pass/Fail grades do not calculate into a student's GPA.

All campus buildings will be locked requiring the use of campus IDs or keys to gain access.

No, tuition costs will remain the same, whether attendance is on campus or remote. Courses will carry the same credit toward a Dickinson degree whether earned by students attending remotely or in person. Courses delivered remotely will be taught by Dickinson’s faculty of pedagogical experts and will be crafted to fit with the rest of the curriculum. As always, class size will be small, allowing for faculty to know their students and interact with them.

Additionally, there are significant costs associated with increasing our ability to deliver quality remote instruction. In an effort to assist families during challenging financial times, the college will forego the previously announced 3.9% tuition rate increase, and tuition will be held steady at the 2019-2020 rates. Families experiencing a change in financial circumstances should reach out to financial aid at finaid@dickinson.edu.

The below cost of attendance will be the standard used to calculate or recalculate aid for the vast majority of students. Variances will be seen in travel expenses for those who live further from campus, as well as those who have no viable option but to stay on campus.

The formula for assessing eligibility for need-based grants, loans and work study is cost of attendance minus the calculated estimated family contribution. The revised estimated cost of attendance assumes a return to campus for the spring 2021 term.

Estimated Cost of Attendance 2020-2021

* The living allowance for fall was determined using the latest available data on consumer expenditures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to account for the added cost of having a student living with parents rather than on campus.

** The Personal & Travel category in the fall term accounts for higher costs for technology due to distance requirements, however it does not assume education-related travel. The spring portion accounts for travel, but not the higher technology cost.

Due to the latest update, many changes need to be made, both in our student information system, and on a student-by-student basis. We are working as quickly as possible to get these awards finalized before the fall bill runs the week of August 3. If they can be released sooner, they absolutely will.

Continuing student aid offer release will be prioritized since first-year students have a solid estimate based on their current aid offer, less the change in cost of attendance, plus their fall work study amount as outlined in the FAQs “How will my need-based financial aid be affected if I am attending remotely?” and “How will I earn my work study award if I am not on campus?”

We appreciate your patience with delayed response times to correspondence over the next two weeks.

First year students

Work study eligibility will be removed for first-year students for the fall semester as first-year students will not be permitted to work remotely. Removing the work study portion for fall will reduce the amount of the grant adjustment necessary for those who have current work study eligibility as a portion of their financial aid award. For instance, the cost of attendance is $3,595 less than expected for the fall. Instead of reducing grant eligibility by the same amount, the removal of $1,250 in work study would bring the necessary grant reduction down to $2,345.

Continuing students

There are expected to be limited work study positions which can be done from off campus. Initial priority will be given to those who are eligible for federal work study. As always, students may opt not to work, but choosing not to work will not alter your financial aid award.

International Students

International students who are not located on campus are not permitted to work. This portion of your financial aid eligibility will be removed for fall and your grant will be reduced $1,250 less than if you were able to work. International students attending on campus may be permitted to work and will have a work contribution on their financial aid offer.

In the spring the CARES Act allowed us to pay students previously utilizing federal work study for hours they would have worked that semester. The College opted to make that available for all current student workers. At this time we do not have any indication that a similar congressional provision will be made to allow us to do the same for the fall semester. The College is in the process of determining which opportunities for student work can be done remotely. In the event that a student is able to be employed remotely, the student will be paid for any hours actually worked. 

There are expected to be limited work study positions which can be done from off campus. Initial priority will be given to those who are eligible for federal work study.

Please contact us at finaid@dickinson.edu to provide documentation of your housing expenses and for counseling on your aid options.

No. Merit scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are not tied to the cost of attendance.

Students are eligible for eight semesters of financial assistance. Semesters on leave will not count toward the eight semesters. However, aid is evaluated each academic year. Therefore, those taking a full year leave may see a change in eligibility because aid will be based on 2019 data, rather than 2018.

Students with current student loan balances will enter repayment 6 months after their last date of at least half-time attendance (mid-November for most students).

No, tuition costs will remain the same, whether or not attendance is on campus or remote as the same credits will be earned by students attending remotely. Courses delivered remotely will contain significant interaction with faculty and peers, with the comparable personal attention our students are accustomed to on campus. Additionally, there are significant costs associated with increasing the ability to deliver quality remote instruction. In an effort to assist families during challenging financial times, the college previously announced that tuition rates would not increase by the expected 3.9% rate, but held steady at the 2019-2020 rates. Families experiencing a change in financial circumstances should reach out to financial aid at finaid@dickinson.edu.

The fall 2020 semester tuition invoice will be available the week of August 3. Students can log onto their Dickinson Gateway and access their statement through the E-Billing channel. The fall 2020 semester invoice is due August 28, 2020. Charges can be viewed on our website. Students attending remotely will not be charged room and board.

Yes, please enroll in the monthly payment plan before August 1, 2020, to start your plan for the fall 2020 semester.

Dickinson has negotiated preferred rates with GradGuard to offer a tuition insurance plan for interested families.  Although epidemics are typically not covered under plans, GradGuard has communicated to us that they will be accommodating claims (until further notice) when an insured student completely withdraws from school for the covered term due to becoming ill with COVID-19.  The Office of Student Accounts website provides a link to GradGuard where you can learn more about the tuition insurance plan.  It is suggested that families secure coverage for the fall semester only at this point given the uncertainties about potential changes in their coverage assurances for the spring semester.

Students enrolled on at least a half-time basis may qualify for pro-rated federal and state grants, work-study and student loans. 

In light of current COVID-19 challenges, the college is making a temporary exception to the existing policy reserving institutional aid for only full-time enrollment. Students who enroll in at least two course credits may be eligible for institutional aid, upon request. Merit scholarships will be given at half the standard semester amount. Need-based aid grant eligibility will be assessed based on tuition costs. Only Dickinson coursework qualifies. Since eligibility will be determined on tuition charges only, not all students receiving Dickinson Grant assistance will qualify for aid as a part-time student. 

A student who utilizes this exemption and needs to later attend a second semester at Dickinson in a part-time status may be eligible for a second semester of pro-rated institutional aid as long as they are approved for part-time study through the Registrar and are enrolled in at least two course credits. 

Students with financial concerns should contact finaid@dickinson.edu for an eligibility estimate before finalizing their part-time status. 

For questions regarding billing or payment methods, please contact the Student Accounts Office at stuaccts@dickinson.edu.

Employees will be notified of any change in status first by phone call and then in writing.

A furlough is a short-term, temporary unpaid leave of absence. Employees on furlough will remain on the college’s benefit plans. A layoff or reduction in force is generally long term and often a permanent separation of employment.

The health and safety of our community is our highest priority. As parts of the college prepare for a smaller group of students to arrive, supervisors may need to revisit staffing requirements. Unfortunately, some staff members may not be needed in their regular capacity. However, as previously communicated, the college will provide a 30-day notice to employees who may have their schedule impacted by a partial or full furlough.

Staff will remain benefits eligible and benefits will be maintained. Employees will be expected to pay their share of benefit co-premiums during the furlough period.

Employees would be eligible to apply. The determination of unemployment compensation benefits is made by the state, not the college.

Employees who are not working or working fewer hours than their regular schedule may elect to use leave (vacation, floating holiday, and sick in this order) or take those hours as unpaid. Unpaid hours may be used as the basis to apply for unemployment.

Continued remote work with supervisory approval remains possible.

Cumberland County is still in the green phase of COVID recovery. Specific safety guidelines will be provided to returning employees, in accordance with state regulations. All individuals, including visitors, on campus are required to wear masks and follow appropriate CDC social distancing procedures at all times.

No, however the “call-in” policy still applies. Call-in pay is additional pay beyond regular pay for full-time nonexempt staff who are called in to work unplanned and unexpectedly outside of their normally scheduled work day or week.

Yes. Employees impacted by a partial or full furlough will receive information on applying for unemployment compensation.

Please talk to your supervisor to determine whether some remote work might be possible. We encourage creativity and flexibility as we continue to work together through this unprecedented time. Specific situations should be brought to Human Resource Services.

At this point the Children’s Center is prepared to continue its operation in accordance with state guidelines. As part of our ongoing implementation efforts, the staff there will be included in our testing and daily symptom monitoring as soon as we have finalized our internal protocols.

We understand this is a stressful time. Employees are reminded of the Employee Assistance resources. As this situation unfolds, we will continue to update these Q&As. If you have a concern that has not been addressed, please email employeequestions@dickinson.edu.

Not yet. We are currently reviewing all student employment positions on campus and evaluating work which can be done remotely. Not all positions will be retained, and some positions may change. Additional information will be provided as decisions are made.

All requests for remote work must be approved before students are hired.

• If the student resides in the United States, remote work may be permitted with approval.
  • Currently, only students who reside and work in the following states will be permitted to work remotely.  Remote work is only permitted in the states where we are currently registered as an employer.  The States where we are registered include:
    • California
    • Massachusetts
    • North Carolina
    • Colorado
    • Maine
    • Ohio
    • Connecticut
    • Maryland
    • Oregon
    • District of Columbia
    • Michigan
    • Pennsylvania
    • Georgia
    • New Jersey
    • South Carolina
    • Illinois
    • New Mexico
    • Virginia
    • Indiana
    • New York
    • Washington
• If the student resides outside of the United States, no remote work will be permitted.
• Non-resident alien student employees who have left the United States are not permitted to perform any remote work.

All student employee hires since mid-March were contingent upon a number of factors. These positions will be included in the review process described above.

While there is no limit to the number of jobs a student may hold, both the student and supervisor(s) will need to monitor earnings very closely.  When the student reaches the maximum earnings allocated as part of the Financial Aid package, the student’s work assignment(s) will come to an end for all jobs and departments where they are employed. 

If the student resides outside of the United States, no volunteer research or volunteer work will be permitted.  Unfortunately, due to varying labor laws and regulations, non-resident alien student employees should not perform any remote work, even if in a volunteer capacity.  

The College is asking all departments to take a critical look at operations and to work as efficiently as possible.  Remote work will be permitted when a department determines that the work performed by a student employee is critical to continuing campus operations and services, and/or enhances Academic programming.  Several factors will affect the hiring of students for remote work including: Federal Work Study eligibility, location where the work will be performed, and the department student wage budget allocation.

• Federal work study eligibility: The College will continue to prioritize the hiring of Federal Work Study students.  Federal Work Study eligible students will be offered opportunities first through September 17th, 2020.  This will assist us in ensuring that all Federal Work Study eligible students who were awarded Federal Work Study as part of their Financial Aid package will have ample opportunity to obtain employment.  Federal work study earnings will be monitored very closely.  When the student reaches the maximum earnings allocated as part of the Financial Aid package, the student’s work assignment(s) will come to an end for all jobs and departments where they are employed.  
• Location:  Only students who reside and work in the states referenced above will be permitted to work remotely.  Remote work is only permitted in the states where we are currently registered as an employer.  Students will be paid the State Minimum Wage where they will be performing the work.
• Student Wage Budget Allocation: FY 21 Student Wage Budget allocations remain the same.  Students working remotely from an approved State will be paid the minimum wage of the state where the work is being performed.  In some cases, approved states may have a higher minimum wage than the normal pay rate for your department.  A higher minimum wage may result in the number of students a department may hire, or the number of hour’s student(s) may work being affected.  Departments will be required to stay within their budget allocation regardless of additional expenses incurred by higher minimum wage rates in other states.

Departments should complete this form with the details regarding student employees they plan to hire.  No hiring should be completed until after the completed form is received and approval is granted to the department. This form will continue to be available for departments to complete as potential new hires are identified. 

Fleet use will be reviewed and allowed on a case-by-case basis. Please put a request in through Fleet Commander, and the transportation coordinator will review and assign you a vehicle if approved. FYI—there are only large vans and minibuses available.

While classes will still begin on August 17, the fall 2020 Academic Calendar has been adjusted to include the standard two-day fall pause, October 5 and 6. The full updated calendar can be found at https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20027/academics/3047/2020-2021_academic_calendar.

Ventilation 

Most modern systems have been designed to provide a specific quantity of air changes per hour (exchange rate) based on the type of space. Labs range from 4 to 12, offices/classrooms are 2 to 3 and bathrooms are 5 to 10. This exchange is accomplished by having dedicated exhaust systems or by introducing outside air into the building airstream. Our older facilities and small houses do not have direct mechanical make up and rely more on infiltration to introduce fresh air. 

To ensure a safe campus environment, facilities management maintenance staff will closely monitor the performance of building air handling units daily via the automated controls program. Due to the concern surrounding COVID-19, more detailed in-person spot checking will also occur, especially in those buildings without these controls.

Where possible, facilities management will be increasing air exchange rates to maximize the amount of fresh air. This will be accomplished by disabling demand-controlled ventilation and opening outdoor air dampers as outdoor conditions permit. Additionally, filters will be inspected and replaced with higher efficiency ones where equipment age and configuration allow. 

Windows

It will be possible to open windows in most locations, but please pay attention to the outside air temperature and humidity conditions. On very hot and humid days, introducing too much warm air will make it difficult for the mechanical systems to maintain building set-points. This could result in environmental hazards such as mold and mildew. Ideally, acceptable outdoor air temperatures should be between 50 and 60 degrees to open windows. Humidity levels should be less than 60%. Windows should be closed when spaces are unoccupied.

Bathrooms

All bathrooms have some type of exhaust system either as part of a building-wide system or individually. While it may be tempting to open windows in bathrooms, this practice is not recommended as air exchange may be reduced due to short cycled air flow patterns.

No, only students who are currently enrolled and actively taking classes are permitted to be employed as a student employee. 

Yes. Mail Services is open for shipping, receiving and Package Pick up Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mail leaves for the Post Office at 3:30 p.m. daily. Packages shipped via UPS or FedEx must arrive at the Mail Center no later than 3 p.m. for same-day pickup.

No. All incoming packages arriving for faculty and staff will be processed for the name on the package and the receiver will be sent an email. If you are expecting a package and do not receive a notification, contact Mail Services with a tracking number. We will be happy to assist you in locating your items.

As with all circumstances, community members should not be within 6 feet of one another without a face covering. As is it not possible to wear a face covering while smoking, those wishing to smoke together will need to position themselves at least 6 feet apart from one another, and adhere to Dickinson’s Smoking Policy.

The college will open the Kline Fitness Center to students who have been approved to remain on campus for the fall semester as well as current members of the faculty and staff. Fitness Center users will be required to schedule a time to access the facility and limit workouts to no more than 45 minutes.

No.

Requests for travel for the period of July – December 2020 will need to be vetted through the divisional vice-president. The parameters for work-related off-campus travel are as follows: 

1. Will the purpose of the travel result in a significant relational impact for the college?
2. Can the purpose of the travel be conducted in any other way during this time period without negatively impacting the outcome (i.e. Can an advancement officer or admissions officer ‘qualify’ a prospect without meeting him/her in-person – yes.  Can a coach conduct a skills evaluation without seeing the prospect conduct drills or perform in competition – maybe.)
3. If an in-person meeting/evaluation is required then it must be a day-trip, with no flights or mass transportation and staff member is expected to follow CDC guidance on social distancing, wearing a mask, hand-hygiene and self-monitoring one’s health.

Through December 31, all nonessential travel by faculty is prohibited.  Nonessential includes in person attendance at academic conferences or research trips.  Faculty may request an exception from the Provost only if appropriate social distancing and other safety measures will be in place.  Research & Development funds awarded for travel may be used for registration for remote conferences.  Faculty who have been awarded travel grants may retain that funding for future approved use.

Supply orders such as Staples and Guernsey will be delivered to Mail Services. Upon receipt, an email notification will be generated and sent to the designated recipient as listed on the package. Orders can be picked between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail Services will NOT be making deliveries across campus.

If you anticipate a large size order or package, contact Mail Services at 717-245-1238 for further instructions to arrange pick-up.

During the fall 2020 semester, A-F grading will be in place. Faculty will have the option of moving their course(s) to pass/fail only. That information will be posted in Banner as a course attribute prior to the start of the semester. All students (including first semester first-year students) have the option of choosing pass/fail grading for any or all of their courses by submitting this form available on the Forms page of the Registrar’s website no later than 4 p.m. EDT, Friday, October 9.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• In order to receive a passing grade (PA), students need to earn the equivalent of a C or better. Anything below a C will receive a failing grade (FA) and not earn credit for the class.
• Courses taken on a pass/fail basis in Fall 2020 can count toward graduation, major, minor or certificate requirements.
• Pass/Fail grades from the Fall 2020 semester do not count against the normal limit of four pass/fail courses during a student's career at Dickinson.
• Pass/Fail grades do not calculate into a student's GPA.

All campus buildings will be locked requiring the use of campus IDs or keys to gain access.

The Budget Office has been modeling the budgetary impact of a large variety of total student enrollment and residency scenarios since mid-March. The current focus now will be on refining the budget assumptions as the college receives more and better information and makes decisions for the fall semester. A proactive part of the modeling exercise has been to identify budget-balancing strategies to close the range of budget shortfalls created by the various scenarios. Possible approaches singly or in combination include utilizing reserves, personnel actions, restricted funds and additional funds from the endowment to provide the needed funding. The All-College Committee on Planning and Budget will meet as necessary throughout the summer to review and consider these strategies. It plans to present a FY21 (2020-2021) modified balanced budget recommendation to the president and Board of Trustees this fall.

The endowment is structured in a way that allows the college to invest over a long-term horizon to protect the value of donor contributions while providing a steady stream of income to the operating budget on an annual basis. Drawing additional money from the endowment now to fund a structural deficit in the operating budget will create a compounding budget gap in future years due to the decrease in income from those invested funds. The college faces many pressures on enrollment, including increased competition for a declining number of high school graduates in the northeast, which require us to prudently operate within our means by “right sizing” the budget based on projected revenues.

Personnel actions cover a wide variety of modifications to both positions and compensation. Position changes include reduction in hours, temporary furlough, lay-off, and position elimination. Suspension of the college’s contribution to the 403 (b) retirement plan for some number of months and pay reductions are examples of changes in compensation. Please note that in recognition of the current financial challenges, the senior officers have already elected to take a 10% reduction in their pay for the year as of July 1.

The Any 20 Plan is the meal plan students approved to live on campus will be assigned to for this fall semester. Any 20 provides the greatest value, assures meals for all students for every week of the term, and is best suited to the modified services available. Flex plans are being suspended for the semester. All students in apartment housing will automatically receive a $500 credit.
Yes, a meal plan is required. As we prepare for the semester, there are many considerations to evaluate. We want to ensure the highest level of safety for our students. Students are strongly encouraged to minimize their travel off campus. In addition, local stores have been struggling to keep shelves stocked and we do not want to contribute to that burden should a second wave of the virus surface.
 

The Dining Hall in the HUB and Union Station will be open for modified hours. The Biblio and Underground will be closed for the semester.

Grab & Go through the HUB Dining Hall will be the only option available through August 30 to support the campus quarantine and restricted movement period.

In addition to our routine food-safety protocols, we are introducing several measures:

• Social distancing procedures are being implemented in waiting lines, serving areas and seating. Staff and social distancing markers will be in place to encourage proper distancing.
• Face-coverings are required of all employees and of all who visit a dining facility except when seated and eating/drinking.
• All self-service food areas are served by Dining employees, i.e. salad bars, beverages, and more.
• Seating for dine-in centers is designed with 6-foot distancing between individuals.
• Dining employees will clean and sanitize seating areas after each use. All Dining areas and touchpoints will be cleaned and sanitized using electrostatic sprayers and foggers between meal periods.

There will be a dining facility open at 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. except the hours of 4 p.m.-5 p.m. daily and no breakfast on Sundays. Union Station will generally be open when the Dining Hall is closed and during the lunch hour. Dining Hall meal periods (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be 90 minutes in length.

Dining Hall  Breakfast: 7 – 8:30 a.m.; Lunch: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Dinner: 5 – 6:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday); Saturday: Breakfast/Lunch: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Dinner: 5 – 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: Lunch: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Dinner: 5  – 6:30 p.m.

Union Station – Breakfast: 8:30 – 11 a.m.; Lunch: Noon – 4 p.m.; Dinner 6:30 – 10 p.m. (Monday through Friday); Saturday Lunch: 1 – 4 p.m.; Dinner: 6:30 – 10 p.m.; Sunday Lunch: 1  – 4 p.m.; Dinner: 6:30 – 10 p.m.

Students will be provided a reusable to-go box to use for Grab & Go. Students may exchange their used box for a new container that has been washed and sanitized when they place an order, or they may exchange the box for a token to be used later. Please empty your container before returning it to Dining Services. Students are encouraged to bring their own empty beverage containers that we will clean using a wash, rinse and sanitize dip station then fill; however, disposable cups and lids will be available. Students may choose to use their own reusable flatware such as the bamboo utensils provided by CSE but are responsible for cleaning those items between uses. Please do not borrow flatware from the dine-in centers since there is a limited quantity—taking flatware from dine-in centers can create an inconvenience for others.

Most of the typical Dining Hall menu will be served this year with a few changes:

• New healthy chef’s plates added to the main line.
• Shaved sandwiches on-demand will not be available.
• The grill line will serve simple selections and omelets will be made using a basic recipe with other available fillings served as side items.
• Grains bar selections will be incorporated into the hot food serving lines.
• The KOVE will be closed.
• The salad bar will have a rotation of the most popular items.
• Hand-dipped ice cream will be unavailable.
• Union Station will offer the most requested menu items and salads will be a selection of chef-composed Grab & Go options. A limited late-night menu will be introduced this year that does not include grilled or fried items.

The Dining Services team will monitor feedback and capabilities closely to evaluate opportunities for menu changes.

Dining staff will continue to serve those with special dietary needs as in the past. Students who have meal accommodations through ADS should see no change. Students who have dietary accommodations through ADS will continue to receive them and all will be handled through the Dining Hall in the HUB. Students who self-monitor their needs may contact the Dining Hall manager to discuss how Dining Services can best meet their needs.

Yes! The library has created a contact-free pick up system for faculty, staff and students who are living on campus. Faculty and staff make requests online through JumpStart, and students make requests by emailing circ@dickinson.edu. Requested items are picked up at the library’s main entry vestibule between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., M-F. More information can be found at www.dickinson.edu/library or by emailing circ@dickinson.edu. 

Return library books or other resources to the book drop area located to the west of the main library entrance on High St. The library quarantines returned items for four days prior to handling and returning them to circulation. 

The library will be closed to visitors but will be available for contactless pickup of print materials as follows.

Faculty and staff may request items through JumpStart. Students approved to live on campus will email circ@dickinson.edu. Requested items will be pulled from the collection and be checked out to the requester. Requesters will receive an email when the items are available for pick up. Available pick up times are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items will be in a bag labeled with requester’s name and placed on shelving inside the vestibule of the library’s main entrance off High Street. Requester should maintain social distancing requirement when picking up items. Questions regarding this service can be directed to email circ@dickinson.edu.

Daily monitoring of symptoms is an important component of the college’s health and safety guidelines. Dickinson’s symptoms tracking tool for employees and for students who are living on campus is now accessible via the Gateway. If students at home would like to use this tool, they also will have access. The college’s plan for handling cases of illness, along with other important information, continues to be updated on the Fall 2020 Dashboard.

All individuals are required to wear a face covering to comply with CDC recommendations and Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements. Respiratory droplets are currently understood to be a primary agent of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) spread. Current guidance suggests that, when within six feet of others, complete and continuous covering of both your nose and mouth with a breathable cloth barrier helps reduce the spread of these respiratory droplets. As a result, the college will provide a reusable cloth mask to all students, faculty and staff to aid in this endeavor. Those on campus may also wear their own face covering; however, it must comply with the following:

All face coverings must:

• be made with at least two layers of breathable material
• fully cover the nose and mouth and secure fully under the chin
• fit snugly but comfortably around the side of the face
• and be secured with ties or ear loops, allowing one to remain hands-free.

Prohibited face coverings include the following, which the CDC has determined are not effective:

• neck gaiters
• open-chin triangle bandannas.

Please note, due to current CDC recommendations and limited supplies, N95 masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Additionally, N95 masks will only be provided to individuals that meet certain criteria based on:

• task(s) performed
• work assignment or academic coursework
• or likelihood of contact.

KN95 masks, while currently more abundant on the open market, will be made available as an alternative to N95s only to those who meet the criteria listed above due to requirements associated with their use and varying effectiveness.

In addition to face coverings, some faculty and staff will be provided face shields. Face shields will also be made available for some students as necessitated for certain courses. Face shields will additionally be made available for sale through the college bookstore.

No, not in the traditional sense. Only students approved to be on campus will be permitted to have small gatherings, with appropriate safety guidelines in place. We also will not host any in-person gatherings for external audiences.