COVID-19 Important Updates | St. Lawrence University COVID-19

COVID-19 Important Updates

  • COVID-19

    COVID-19

    COVID-19

Last Updated: April 24, 2020, at 4:15 p.m.

Remote Learning (Updated 3/24/2020)

  • St. Lawrence University's Remote Learning period began Monday, March 23 and will extend through the end of the Spring 2020 semester so students can complete coursework as much as possible from off campus.

Commencement (Updated 4/2/2020)

  • The in-person Commencement celebrations scheduled for the weekend of May 15-17, 2020, have been postponed.
     
  • The intention of the University is to replace the traditional May Commencement for the Class of 2020 with another date on campus in a traditional academic ceremony with stage, speeches, and regalia, once government and public health directives declare it is safe to do so and in coordination with the University calendar. We expect more information will be provided, including a tentative date, within the next few weeks.
     
  • This (TBD) face-to-face event will be live-streamed, as has been the custom at past Commencements. 
     
  • There will not be a remote or virtual celebration on Sunday, May 17, as was previously offered.

Room and Board Credits/Refunds (Updated 3/24/2020)

  • The University plans to provide refunds or credits for room and board charges, but will only be able to calculate the amount that will be credited to a student's account after the end of the semester. By then, we will be able to speak to each situation specifically. We appreciate your patience as we work through this process.

Retrieving Belongings and Residence Life (Updated 3/24/2020)

  • All residential buildings at the University are currently closed. Only students who are approved to remain on campus are permitted in university housing. At this time, no other students, family, or guests are permitted to enter residential buildings.
     
  • Due to the New York State Governor’s March 20 directive for 100% work-on-site reduction, we cannot grant access and arrange for students to retrieve their belongings at this time, nor may we assist with packing and shipping. We know how important the items that you left behind are to you and we are developing a plan. We will communicate this plan to all students once we have additional information. 
     
  • Students or family members with questions should contact the Office of Residence Life at 315-229-5250 or email reslife@stlawu.edu.
     
  • Students approved to stay on campus have the choice to remain on campus for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester or return to their homes. There will be an individual request process to stay on campus longer for those students who are not able to return home this summer. 

Emergency Student Assistance Fund (Updated 4/24/2020) 

  • Recognizing the financial hardship that is now being faced by many of our students, the University, with the support of generous donors, has established the Emergency Student Assistance Fund, which will help students with uncovered and unplanned expenses.
     
  • Interested students can apply to use the fund. 

Fall 2020 Planning (Updated 4/24/2020)

  • The University has initiated a comprehensive planning process to ensure we continue to foster student learning, business continuity, and fiscal resiliency for the next academic year.

  • Our initial framework for planning includes starting with the following four possible scenarios but allows for flexibility as needed based on local, state, and federal directives.

    • Return to campus as planned in August 2020 with some changes, but the academic calendar remains essentially intact; allowances to accommodate some online learning
    • Delayed start to the Fall 2020 semester with some coursework in the initial weeks being conducted remotely
    • Return to campus in January 2021 with online instruction in Fall 2020
    • Return to campus in Fall 2021 with online instruction throughout the 2020-21 academic year

  • To begin exploring these contingencies, Senior Staff has established four planning groups of two to three senior staff members and additional faculty and staff to consider as fully as possible all implications for each scenario. 

    • Academic program and faculty; university calendar and events; off-campus programs
    • Non-academic programs—athletics, student life, campus capital assets
    • Administration—policies, contracts, staffing levels, and budget
    • Admissions, advancement, and long-term financial (revenue) strategy 

  • Many of you may wonder when we expect to decide about the fall, and our best answer is we don’t know yet. We acknowledge that time and resources for planning are important and ask for your patience as we consider the complexity of all factors. Read more from Karl Schonberg and Hagi Bradley.

Admissions (Updated 4/24/2020)

  • The Office of Admissions has not taken new appointments since Monday, March 16, and has suspended all on-campus tours and interviews until the University reassesses the situation.
     
  • Admissions has canceled all in-person Admitted Student Open Houses, as well as the spring Admissions Visit Day for high school juniors and sophomores. 
     
  • Learn more about the many virtual opportunities to get to St. Lawrence by visiting our Admissions page.

Reunion, Laurentian Engagement, and Fundraising Information (Updated 4/24/2020)

  • Reunion Weekend, scheduled for May 28-31, 2020, has been canceled.
     
  • The University has announced that those milestones and affinities affected by the cancellation of Reunion Weekend 2020 will be invited to participate alongside Reunion milestones next year, June 3-6, 2021. 
     
  • Read more Laurentian engagement and fundraising updates from University Advancement.

Events and Facilities (Updated 4/24/2020)

  • All on-campus and off-campus summer events beyond July 5 are also now cancelled indefinitely. For questions, contact your senior staff member.

  • Residential and Dining facilities will be closed through July 5 pending future notice with the exception of students approved to stay on campus through an individual request process. 

  • Camp Canaras, located on Upper Saranac Lake and operated by the University, will be closed for the 2020 season.
     

  • As of March 16 at 8 p.m., the University’s fitness facilities are closed in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s directive to close all gyms. 
     

  • As of March 16, the Brush Art Gallery is closed.
     

  • As of Friday, March 20, Brewer Bookstore is temporarily closed, but they are accepting online orders. Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
     

Summer Academic Programs (Updated 4/2/2020) 

  • On-campus components of summer academic programs including coursework, SLUPIC, SLU and Tanner Fellowships, CSTEP and McNair summer research and internships, HEOP Summer session, and Saints Start Challenge Grants are canceled.
     
  • Program directors will work with mentors, fellowship awardees, and Tanner applicants to see if remote options or postponements of projects are possible.
     
  • The University expects to maintain its summer online course offerings. 

Off-Campus Spring and Summer Programs (Updated 3/24/2020) 

  • As of March 15, 2020, St. Lawrence has instructed students in all Spring 2020 off-campus programs to return to their homes. St. Lawrence is working with students and host institutions to ensure that every student has the opportunity to return to campus in the fall with the full amount of credit they had planned, and experience no interruption of progress toward graduation.
     
  • All spring semester international short-term travel components, summer international internships, and summer international travel courses are canceled.

Intercollegiate Athletics (Updated 3/13/2020)

  • The Liberty League presidents have unanimously agreed to cancel all remaining conference regular-season and championship competitions. The NCAA has also announced it has canceled all winter and spring championships.