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Dear students,

Faculty, staff and students often refer to the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Ashtabula community as a family.  It’s a family that is strengthened by the students, faculty and staff engaging together to provide the best possible path to earn a degree. And right now, that path will include measures to keep you healthy. 

Last week, you received an email regarding changes to the Fall 2020 schedule.  Some classes offered by the Ashtabula Campus will be taught remotely. Some of these classes will include activities, like meeting with a small discussion group or attending a lecture, that could be held on campus. Our goal for remote classes is to replicate the unique, close-knit community that is the heart of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Ashtabula. Now, more than ever, we need to remain connected with one another.

 A number of classes will be scheduled for delivery on campus. These courses will mostly take place in laboratory settings and will be offered in Biology, Chemistry, Nursing and the Allied Health programs. Students who come to campus for these classes, as well as the entire faculty and staff of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Ashtabula, must adhere to our Flashes Safe Eight principles.

Even if some of your classes are remote, there will be opportunities to engage in on-campus experiences. You will benefit from the access to quiet study spaces, reliable high-speed internet, library resources including curbside pickup. Throughout the year, you’ll be able to participate in student organizations and other campus activities, both in person and virtually. 

We will begin Fall Semester classes on August 27, 2020. Later this summer, you will be hearing more from the faculty and staff about your fall classes.

We plan to end all in-person instruction on November 20, 2020, with remaining instruction, study sessions, and final examinations moving remotely for the remainder of the semester.

This plan is designed to address epidemiological models that suggest a potential resurgence in COVID-19 cases in late November/early December. Because of this new schedule, we will forego the fall break that had been planned for October 15-18.

Our Student Services team is here to meet you where you are. We can advise you on everything from your class schedule to financial aid, all remotely. Contact the office at 440-964-4217 to get connected with an advisor or financial aid team member.

In addition to your physical safety, we remain committed to the mental health and well-being of our university community as we prepare to reopen. We are exploring ways to expand mental health support to ensure that we are meeting student needs. If you are a current student and in need of physical or behavioral health services, please visit www.kent.edu/ashtabula/counseling for further information.

Staying safe on campus is a priority at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Ashtabula. We know you want to remain on campus, and we do, too. To ensure that you are taking responsibility for keeping yourself and others safe from the coronavirus, all Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ students must agree to the KSU Student Pledge and adhere to the Flashes Safe Eight principles:

• Face coverings are required. The university will provide you with two cloth face coverings.
• You must rigorously practice hand hygiene.
• Physical distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced requiring individuals to maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others.
• You must self-monitor daily for symptoms of COVID-19 before coming to campus or attending class.
• For health questions about COVID-19 and safe practices, call University Health Services at 330-672-2322, or after hours, contact the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Nurse Line at 330-672-2326.  Visit our COVID-19 hub for more information.
• Always demonstrate kindness and respect in all that we do.

Students and faculty will be expected to follow the  Flashes Safe Eight principles during all face-to-face classes and interactions. Students who fail to follow these guidelines could be subject to the Classroom Disruption Policy or other areas of the Code of Student Conduct.

In some cases, individuals may have special circumstances that prevent them from wearing a face covering. Those individuals must submit a Pandemic Adjustment Request Accommodation Form.

If you or your family have questions about Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s reopening plans or campus operations, please visit our student FAQs for more information.

With your help we can keep our Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Ashtabula family safe, healthy, and moving forward.

Take care,

Susan J. Stocker, Ph.D.
Dean and Chief Administrative Officer