IUP CONTINUES PREPARATIONS FOR FALL 2020 SEMESTER AMID COVID-19 CONCERNS

IUP has announced some of the plans that will be put in place as the University reopens to students in the fall semester.

In an announcement in May, IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll said that IUP will have in-person instruction and on-campus residential living starting with the beginning of the fall semester, which remains August 24^th.  New students will move in starting August 15^th and will take part in Welcome Week programs.  Move-in for returning students will be expanded to observe health and safety guidelines and students will be able to schedule move-in times.

For classes, IUP is taking a hybrid approach for many of their lecture-based classes.  It was originally announced that professors will divide the class into groups, with some being physically present for the lectures and others attending via Zoom or similar technology.  If possible, the lectures will also be moved to a room large enough to accommodate the size of the class and any social distancing guidelines in place.  Online courses will continue to be offered as directed, and students who want to continue remote learning will need to talk with their advisor about classes that are right for them.

Students who will live on-campus will see either private bedrooms or bedroom spaces redesigned to follow social distancing guidelines.  Also students will either have private bathrooms or will share a bathroom with one other person.  Also, all shared living and learning spaces will be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.

All of that could change as the Covid-19 situation changes, and members of the Fall 2020 Planning Committee have a number of plans and scenarios in place should things change between now and August.  IUP will communicate with students if things change, and they will also utilize a fall planning website.   Everyone can access it by going to https://www.iup.edu/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=283166