Spring 2021 Reopening

Students should call the ESU Health Center at (272) 762-4378 or their local health care provider. ESU students that are living on campus will be connected to a nurse for additional screening and triage. The nurse will discuss symptoms and provide guidance for medical care per CDC recommendations.

The university is working diligently to ensure that students scheduled to graduate this spring will complete their course requirements and meet all graduation requirements. Please contact your department chairperson or college dean for details as to specific course requirements.

More information regarding Commencement will be forthcoming.

The University Bookstore expects to operate close to normal with the exception of abbreviated “in store” hours (please see website for current hours). The store is accepting orders through its website, and students are encouraged to order their books via the website to be shipped to their home address. The University Bookstore accepts book vouchers, textbook scholarships, as well as all standard tenders through the website.

For commuters or for those who may be close by and choose to come to the bookstore, the University Store is open on a modified schedule. Students are encouraged to place their order on the bookstore website and choose “in store pickup” to streamline the process. However, the store will still carry all of the required textbooks in the store. For further information, please contact jknorr@esu.edu.

ESU recognizes that some students are under tremendous stress this semester and so for Spring 2021 the University has made a decision to convert an “E” grade to an alternate coded letter, “F,” on the student’s transcript so the grade will not lower or impact the GPA. All other grades, A through D, will remain the grade and will be computed in the student's GPA.

This is a course of action that other Universities have used successfully.

As discussed in the academic year 2020-2021 COVID-19 Grading Policy below, the grade conversion for an “E” will be automatic. Students don't need to take any further action for the grading policy to apply.

ESU’s COVID-19 Grading Policy for the Academic Year (AY) 2020-21 will include all student grades for the Fall 2020, Winter Session 2021, and Spring 2021 semesters. Therefore:

If you are an undergraduate student: A grade of ‘A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or D’ will continue to be transcripted and will affect the semester and cumulative GPA. A failing grade of ‘E’ will be converted to an ‘F’ grade as to not affect a student’s GPA. Graded AY 2020-21 courses may be repeated once. The one time repeat will not count toward the maximum number of allowable repeats detailed in the University’s Repeat Grades policy. Repeat Grades Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20, pg. 23.

If you are a graduate student: A grade of ‘A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or E’ will continue to be transcripted and affect the semester and cumulative GPA. During AY 2020-21, graduate students earning a grade of ‘E’ may petition for a course repeat and the repeated course will not count toward the ‘one-time repeat rule.’ Course Repeats Graduate Catalog 2019-20 pg. 26.

For questions or concerns regarding the Academic Year (AY) 2020-21 COVID-19 Grading Policy, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (570) 422-2800 or records@esu.edu.

Smartphones are not recommended as they are not compatible with ESU's online platforms.

Recommend Specifications for Student-owned Computers:

A computer with sufficient memory (RAM) and hard-drive space is recommended.

• Average model: for basic applications (word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, Internet access, educational software).
• High end model: for multi-media applications (3D modeling, video production, etc.). For the more advanced computer user.

Access to computers will be available for local ESU students in the Kemp Library during fall 2020. Please check the Kemp Library website for hours and further information.

Local students may use the computer lab in the Kemp Library. For students who are not in the immediate area, we recommend that students visit their local public library or businesses that offer free Wi-Fi. For additional concerns and assistance, please contact the Office of the Provost at (570) 422-2820 or email provost@esu.edu.

At this time, we are planning for face-to-face student teaching placements unless school districts advise otherwise. Please contact the Office of Field Experiences and Partnerships (Jill Greenwood; jgreenwood@esu.edu) for the latest information.

The staff of OASIS wants to assure you that we will continue to support your learning as ESU is in a primarily remote learning environment.

Important things to note:

• All approved academic accommodations currently in place will remain in effect.
• Students with note takers will continue to have access to uploaded notes on Accommodate for all lectures (either pre-recorded or streaming live).
• Students with testing accommodations should continue to follow the testing protocol in provided by OASIS and contact professors prior to exam date to notify them you will be utilizing your extended time.
• Please update your ESU password when prompted. You will not be able to access Accommodate, D2L, ESU portal, etc, if you ignore these prompts if you are locked out.

For many students, online instruction is new and may be intimidating. We are here to support you. If you need help navigating online instruction please do not hesitate to contact Kim Roselli at kroselli1@esu.edu for assistance.

The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provides funding to individual colleges and universities in the U.S. in order to provide financial grants to students who are facing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Education has provided general guidelines to indicate how funds are to be distributed and has given each institution discretion on how funds will be disbursed.

For more information, please see CARES Act fund request page.

Please visit the Campus Card Center for more information about ESU's eCard.

For faculty and staff and students living on or near campus that may require access to academic and administrative offices, please see the chart below and note that most of these buildings will require your e-card to access buildings. Most buildings that do not require ecard access are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday) unless there are evening or weekend classes. For access at any other time, you will need to make arrangements with your professor or the director of the office you wish to visit.

Local ESU students experiencing symptoms (cough, fever, respiratory issues) must call the Expresscare at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono at (272) 762-4378 to be triaged, prior to visiting Expresscare.

All other students may visit Expresscare for their healthcare needs.

ESU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing remote telebehavioral health services to students via phone or ZOOM.

Students who are seeking counseling services can call CAPS at (570) 422-3277, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and leave a message indicating they are interested in counseling. The student will receive a return call with instructions on how they may access and complete the necessary consent forms and intake information prior to receiving telebehavioral health services. Messages are checked regularly throughout the day.

CAPS counselors are licensed in Pennsylvania and are regulated to provide counseling only to students in Pennsylvania at time of service. For students not living in Pennsylvania who require and are seeking other counseling services, please call or email the ESU Health and Wellness Center Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at (570) 422-3277 or email afreeman11@esu.edu. The Health and Wellness Director and/or the Health and Wellness Case Manager will help you access services in your community. If the student is experiencing a mental health crisis, they should contact 911, 211, or the National Suicide Hotline at (800) 273-8255.

The physical Bookstore is open with modified hours.

Students who need to order course-required materials can do so at any time, 24 hours a day, by visiting the bookstore website. Students are encouraged to order their books via the website to be shipped to their home address. The University Bookstore accepts book vouchers, textbook scholarships, as well as all standard tenders through the website.

For commuters or for those who may be close by and choose to come to the bookstore, the University Store is open on a modified schedule. Students are encouraged to place their order on the bookstore website and choose “in store pickup” to streamline the process. However, the store will still carry all of the required textbooks in the store. For store hours and further information, please check the bookstore website or contact the University Store via email at sm8074@bncollege.com, or by phone: (570) 422-3177.

Faculty or staff with questions regarding textbooks, please contact Joe Knorr at (570) 422-3640 or email jknorr@esu.edu.

Students should email Mary Ann Matras (mmatras@esu.edu) to request food from the pantry. Students will then meet pantry volunteers at the pantry, located at St. Matthew’s Church (78 Ridgeway Street, East Stroudsburg) for pickup.

For those wishing to donate items, please visit the Warrior Food Pantry website for a list of helpful items and drop-off locations.

Additionally, for a complete list of available community meals in the area, please see the resource guide. In the guide you will find the phone numbers to each community meal, please call ahead before arriving to ensure that they continue to be operational. The Salvation Army in East Stroudsburg is a resource for food as well and can be contacted at (570) 421-3050.

Yes, Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence and the Student Activity Association are committed to completing the educational mission and continue to engage with all students through our programs and resources. Student clubs and organizations will continue to be virtually active. To get connected and for a calendar of student events, please visit WarriorLink!

CLIE and SAA staff are available for virtual meetings, and in-person meetings by appointment. Staff members will also be available to assist with your questions by phone or email. See hours of operation.