Advising students for Spring/Summer 2021

The semester placement process, including the waiting list for Spring 2021 on campus

July 2020: placement process for 2020-21 academic year

• Everyone was offered two semesters on-campus/off-campus study
• FYs, SRs, and incoming transfer students were guaranteed their two preferred semesters (mostly Fall/Spring)
• Semester placement committee prioritization
  • Academic progress (e.g., two-semester sequence courses, like Organic Chemistry)
  • International student travel/visa issues
  • Campus commitments (student organizations, athletics, campus jobs)
  • Summer commitments (season-specific work, internships)
  • Home situations (e.g., home insecurity re. food/space, family dynamics, mental health)
  • The committee considered everything else students provided on the survey
• Over half of sophomores and juniors were able to get their preferred semesters

October 2020: waiting list process for Spring on Campus

• Waiting list includes all who selected Spring on campus in July but did not receive it, all students scheduled for Spring off-campus study, minus anyone who indicated they preferred Spring remote or Summer on campus
• c. 400 students potentially on the waiting list, likely c. 100 slots available
• Students must submit a form laying out their reason for wanting a Spring on-campus placement--it is due before midnight on October 22
• The semester placement committee will allocate students to all available slots, and then continue to add students as space becomes available, which may happen close to November 16, the last day students with Spring on campus can go remote for Spring without paying an administrative fee
• Students on the waiting list may now select any placement among Spring remote, Summer on campus, and Summer remote--since none of those has a limit

Students with a Spring on-campus placement who are thinking about changing to Spring remote or Summer on campus

Some students currently with a Spring on-campus placement may decide that Spring remote or Summer on-campus works better for them. Every student with a Spring on campus placement received a link to a form to decline that placement and choose one of the other options.

Considering the value of the Summer semester

The Summer semester is being designed to appeal specifically to the sophomores and juniors who will be the majority in it. Here is a brief overview: https://www.stlawu.edu/advising/summer-2021-semester-overview

• Opportunities for 5- and 10-week long classes, including many courses desirable to sophomores and juniors; 5-week classes with short-term travel components; two full-semester off-campus study options (New York City, Kenya Semester Program); research courses with optional independent research stipends; internships at the Sustainability Farm.
• Students must enroll in at least 3.5 units, which means it will be necessary to do both mini-sessions, though it is possible to do a mixture of 5- and 10-week courses, short-term travel component courses, etc. So, a student might do four courses that run 10 weeks, two 5-week courses in the first mini-session and two 5-week courses in the second mini-session, two 10-week courses and one 5-week course in each mini-session, etc.

Some students want a Spring on-campus placement because it is the usual default, or because it gets connected to their sense of being valued, or because there are things they want to do in the summer that they think a Summer semester placement would interfere with.

• The Summer semester is a full term, in which students will take 4 units of coursework, it will be covered by regular financial aid and scholarships, it is a wonderful time to be in Canton
• Social restrictions on campus due to COVID may be loosened by May, if there is progress in addressing the pandemic
• If a student needs to work to pay for school: many jobs are available during the Spring semester period, and there are actually more weeks to work available.
• If a student wants to get an internship: many internships are available during a normal semester--not as many as during the summer, but often longer and more likely to be paid, and perhaps a richer experience. Students can talk to Career Services and to Geoff Falen, Director of Career Connections about possibilities.
• If a student is behind in credit or uncertain about a major or career path, an "off" semester in the Spring might provide a good opportunity to work, take classes elsewhere to transfer back, think about academic and career trajectory, prepare for LSAT/GRE/applying to graduate school.
• Students can still take advantage of campus resources (such as Career Services, Academic Advising, etc.) during their "off" semester

If the Summer semester will not work for a student

For some students, the Summer semester simply will not work. Some students have seasonal summer jobs that are connected to family responsibilities or long-term goals, the course offerings will complicate their progress to degree completion, etc.

If they do not get a place in Spring on campus, they may do Spring remote. Most students will be able to find relevant and interesting courses and be able to work remotely, even if it is not their preferred mode.

Leave of absence

If neither of those options is tenable, and the student does not get a place in Spring on campus, taking a leave of absence (LOA) is an option. It might also be an option for students who find life on campus difficult with the social restrictions imposed by COVID safety measures but are unable or unwilling to do a semester remotely. If a student takes a leave of absence, there is a simple online form available from Student Life. Returning from a LOA is simple, with a brief readmission application that goes to Student Life. Normally, there is no problem coming back from a LOA, but our policy does clearly state that you can come back if there is room. In my three years in this job, that has never, ever been an issue. And it won’t be if we have 10-20, or probably even 50, students who do this, but if 500 take a LOA, we might not have room for everyone next fall. Of course, that would not mean that people would never be able to come back, but some might have to wait until later that year or even the following year. This seems unlikely but should be noted.

Students who take a LOA will still have any SLU scholarships or merit aid when they return, while need-based aid (if they have it) will be recalculated as per their FAFSA at that time. And if they have federal loans (and most private loans), repayment will begin 6 months into the LOA unless they can work out other terms with lenders; payments will then stop when the student resumes full-time study, and then start up as soon as the student graduates, without a new 6-month grace period.