A Plan for Reuniting Our Spartan Family

• Will York College be opening campus for in-person classes this fall?

  Yes! The Fall 2020 semester will begin in August, and students will be welcomed back to campus with appropriate safety precautions in place. 

• What will classes look like in the fall?

  The College will offer a blend of virtual and in-person instruction in each of our courses, and classroom capacity will be limited to allow for social distancing. All classrooms have been equipped with Zoom technology and cameras for streaming lessons.

• Has the academic calendar changed?

  Yes. The Fall 2020 schedule has been updated to reflect a compressed semester. Evening classes will begin on August 24, and day classes will begin on August 25. Classes will be held on Labor Day, and Fall Break has been removed from the schedule. The last day of on-campus classes will be held on November 24, 2020. Students will then leave their residence halls, return home, and finish Reading Days and Final Exams remotely by December 5.

• What kind of support services will be available this semester?

  All student support services will be available (Health Center, Counseling Services, Academic Advising, Career Development, Student Accessibility Services, Tutoring and Writing Assistance) to students throughout the semester. 
  

• What kind of social activities or events will be available this semester?

  Student Activities and the Campus Activities Board are planning a variety of events and activities for the fall semester. To meet social distancing requirements, events will be a combination of virtual and in-person, smaller-scale programs open to all students. 

  Campus traditions such as bingo, trivia, stress busters, etc., will still occur with a new twist – many will be outdoors or virtually interactive. Campus Recreation will provide fun competitions and themed recreational activities. Most will be virtual. Student organizations will continue to operate with meeting and event attendance restrictions. Commuters will, as always, be included in all events and engagement opportunities.

• Will athletic teams be competing?

  We anticipate that decisions regarding athletics will be made shortly. Our conference athletic directors and presidents have been meeting to discuss pending issues and potential schedules. Coaches will keep student-athletes informed on the status of fall sports.

• Will I be able to live on-campus this fall? Will I have a roommate?

  Residence Life will continue offering double and single rooms to students in campus housing. Students who selected spaces with roommates will remain in those assignments for the upcoming academic year. Additionally, new students who requested to be placed with roommates will be placed accordingly whenever possible.

• What will the move-in process look like for campus housing?

  Move-in for the fall semester will be a staggered, weeklong event beginning August 17. Students will sign up for a specific date and time block to move into residence halls. Updates and information will be shared with students in mid-July once housing assignments are finished and billing statements are issued. Decisions regarding the early return to campus by special groups – student-athletes, Engaged Scholars, etc. – are still under consideration.

• Will I have to wear a mask on campus?

  Everyone on campus will be required to wear masks when in public spaces, including classrooms.

• What safety measures are being taken to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus?

  We are committed to keeping our campus community healthy. Outside visitors will be limited, and everyone on campus will be required to wear masks when in public spaces, including classrooms. 

  All residence halls, other campus facilities, and shuttle buses are currently being sanitized and disinfected in anticipation of reopening. Additional cleaning will occur, especially in common areas. Plexiglass barriers are being erected in areas having the highest potential for social contact. Temperature checks will be conducted upon entering our dining facilities. Dining hall capacity is being reduced, and carryout and grab-and-go options are being expanded.

• What happens if there is an active COVID-19 case on campus?

  Should a student display symptoms associated with COVID-19, appropriate procedures will be followed including on- or off-campus quarantining, if necessary.

Resources

• Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania (PA.gov)
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• Wellspan Health