Frequently Asked Questions

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or think you might have COVID-19, the CDC recommends that you 1) stay home (do not visit public areas), 2) stay in touch with your doctor (call before you get medical care) and 3) avoid public transportation. Additionally, if you reside with other people, you should isolate yourself from them in a specific “sick room,” if possible.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

Also, Apple Inc., in partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently released an app and website that guides Americans through a series of questions about their health and exposure to determine if they should seek care for COVID-19 symptoms. Users can download the free app from Apple’s App Store or access the tool online at www.apple.com/covid19.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0327-statement-covid-19-apple-app.html

We trust that each member of the WU campus community will ultimately accept responsibility for their own health and safety and act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them.

For information on how to protect yourself and others, see the Keep Waynesburg Well Pledge

Seeds for Success, Waynesburg University's pre-orientation program, is being held virtually for 2020. New students are encouraged to attend live, remote Seeds for Success sessions on June 19, June 22 or July 17.  Note: Seeds for Success is the first part of orientation; please see New Student Orientation information below.

Learn more or register now!

If you have traveled, or plan to travel, to an area where there are large numbers of COVID-19 cases, please consider the nature of your close contacts and potential exposures to individuals in those states and whether you were or will be able to practice social distancing, masking, and good hygiene.  Upon return from travel, you should assess the nature of your contact and potential exposures and stay at home for 14 days upon return, if you determine that you might have experienced close contact (6 feet or less for 10-15 minutes or more) with a known positive case.  

View the CDC’s guidelines for safe travel     

View the PA DOH travel advisory 

Fall 2020 athletics at Waynesburg University will proceed in accordance with the PAC’s plans, which include the following adjustments:

• To postpone fall 2020 athletic competitions in the NCAA-defined “high-contact” and “medium-contact” sports of football, men’s & women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s & women’s cross country until the spring 2021 semester, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The NCAA-defined “low contact” fall 2020 sports of women’s tennis and men’s & women’s golf will tentatively be permitted to compete this fall with conference competition only, as previously announced, barring additional NCAA or state guidelines/restrictions. The conference will also explore logistical options for holding fall athletic competitions in other “low contact” sports such as men’s & women’s outdoor track & field and men’s tennis, which have typically held their traditional seasons in the spring in past years.
• Tentative modified spring varsity game/competition schedules in football, soccer, volleyball and cross country will be developed by the PAC Scheduling Working Group and released in the near future.
• In addition, the PAC Presidents’ Council also agreed to not hold any winter sport varsity sports competitions prior to January 1, 2021.

Student athletes should contact their coaches with questions.

Learn more

Waynesburg University is utilizing a symptoms-based strategy regarding testing, which is consistent with the most up to date guidance from the CDC and the experts at our health care partner, Washington Health System.

As a best practice, students should be reporting changes in health as a regular practice. The key here is "new or emerging symptoms,” so each person reporting symptoms should declare these symptoms in the context of their overall health history. This reporting would not include symptoms related to a chronic medical condition (for example, asthma that causes a cough, or, similarly, allergies that cause sneezing or the sniffles, or chronic headaches/migraines), or routine digestive problems which also appear as symptoms that overlap with those of COVID-19.

In the daily screening app, the symptoms to report include specifically “new or worsening cough.” If that symptom (or others) occur, the student then completes the Screening Machform at waynesburg.edu/screening, which triggers the following communication flow:

• The Screening Machform goes to the RD in the residence hall or someone in Student Services if commuter, as well as Student Health Services
• RD talks to student and refers student to Student Health Services and refers via the MUM system
• Student Health Services consults with student, reviews their preexisting health conditions, medications, and refers to Washington Health System Greene, if necessary

If it is found that you have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (close contact is defined as spending 10 minutes or more within 6 feet of the individual), you will have to quarantine for 14 days. In this event, you will be moved to one of the isolation units on campus or could opt to go home or to another approved, safe, self-isolation location. Meals and other services will be provided. Remote learning options will be utilized; however, no clinical placements will occur during the isolation period.

Wearing masks prevents the spread of respiratory droplets resulting from coughing or sneezing. As a best practice, you should additionally try to cover the mask with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your sleeve while wearing the mask and immediately discard the tissue.

Everyone is required to wear a properly fitting mask that covers the nose and mouth. Masks are required; gaiters and buffs are not appropriate.

The CDC recently changed its guidance regarding what was previously “face coverings” to “masks” to clarify best practices for the general public and to reflect current research on the topic. For more information, visit the CDC's website

You are encouraged to keep your mask on outside at all times, if possible. If necessary, you may remove it outside in areas where you are able to maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more. Masks must be worn by all students, faculty, and staff in all classrooms, public shared spaces on campus, particularly in common areas or situations in which a person is entering confined spaces with groups of other people.

Faculty, staff and students are required to comply with social distancing protocols and maintain social distancing at all times in public areas on campus. Below are some helpful examples of common things that are approximately six feet long to help you visualize how far to stand from others.

Examples:

• A refrigerator
• A yoga mat
• A Macbook Air charger

Please note: If two people can each extend their arms in front of them or side-to-side and they can touch, they are too close.

If you had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your supervisor as soon as possible and fill out the Screening Machform at Waynesburg.edu/screening. You should not come to campus.

According to the CDC, close contact includes two or more people gathering in close proximity (within 6 feet) with or without masks for more than 10 minutes of sustained engagement (talking, eating, drinking, etc.). 

After completing the screening mach form, you will be contacted by someone who will provide guidance about next steps. Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to quarantine for 14 days or have a negative COVID-19 test result prior to returning to campus. Please coordinate the remote completion of your work duties with your supervisor.

You should stay home for 14 days after your last close contact with a person who has COVID-19. Even if you test negative for COVID-19 or are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should stay home (quarantine) since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Please view our When to Start and End Quarantine document for helpful information regarding different scenarios. According to the CDC, close contact includes two or more people gathering in close proximity (within 6 feet) with or without masks for more than 10 minutes of sustained engagement (talking, eating, drinking, etc.).

The Pathways Center will be open on a limited basis, but all services will be available remotely.  More information will follow.

Students with a documented medical need for housing accommodations or exemptions can apply for accommodations or an exemption through the Accommodations and Disabilities Office in the Pathways Center. The University will engage in an interactive process to determine if a housing accommodation or exemption is appropriate. Students who seek an instructional accommodation in the form of remote learning shall also submit their request to the Accommodations and Disabilities Office in the Pathways Center. The University will engage in an interactive process to determine if an instructional accommodation is appropriate under the circumstances. 

The Library will be open with restrictions and new protocols for social distancing, hygiene, and sanitizing.  Details on hours and accessibility will be shared via the Library website in the future.

Waynesburg’s counseling staff have modified their availability and services in order to reduce the person-to-person contact and avail their services through a telehealth format to ensure that there are no delays in service. 

The Counseling Center

Waynesburg University’s fully staffed Health Services department is a vital piece to the success of the University’s strategy to keep students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic on campus. Health Services will interface directly with Washington Health System professionals who will provide the aforementioned services beyond the capabilities of this department such as ‘COVID testing’, physician consultation, referrals, prescriptions and hospital admissions, critical care, and reporting of statistics. Waynesburg’s Health Services will operate according to all of the recommended best-practices from the CDC for COVID-19 prevention, care, testing, and treatment of any student.

Student Health Services

• Disinfecting wipes (e.g. Clorox wipes) can be safely used on WU keyboards, mice, and office phones. 
• Clorox wipes should never be used on monitors, tablets/iPads, nor any type of mobile displays. Only cleaning wipes made specifically, and labeled as such, should be used for screens. Failure to do so can result in permanent device damage/failure and may/will void the device warranty. 
• Spray cleaners should never be used on any computer/electronic related equipment.

For more information, contact the ITS Helpdesk

Students will have an opportunity to request an incomplete grade from their instructor.  The Office of the Registrar will send an email notification before final examinations to provide the necessary information to make the request(s).  For a complete explanation of the University’s policy for an incomplete grade, please view the 2019-2020 Academic Catalog.

Social distancing, safe hygiene, and sanitizing measures will be in place. More information will follow.

Food and drinks are not permitted in classrooms. Masks must be worn by all students, faculty, and staff in all classrooms, public shared spaces on campus, particularly in common areas or situations in which a person is entering confined spaces with groups of other people.

Please grab a wipe from the front of the classroom when you enter and wipe down the space you will be using prior to sitting down. You are not required to sanitize the space again prior to departure. Please properly dispose of the used wipe.

Screening form

View screening process

Should you make the decision to engage in social interaction, either on or off campus, the CDC has issued important guidance to help you mitigate risks to yourself and others. We trust that each member of the WU campus community will ultimately accept responsibility for their own health and safety and act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them.

Please check with your department chair for details specific to your academic program.

View CDC guidance

View the Keep Waynesburg Well Pledge

While we enjoy having visitors on the beautiful Waynesburg University campus, to reduce the risk to our campus community, Waynesburg University will be limiting visitors to campus. Visitors include vendors, contractors, invitees, guests, and prospective students and their families or guests. Wherever possible, vendors should do their work remotely. If visitors must access campus, they must:

• schedule appointments in advance with the office they intend to visit;
• submit a Screening Form 24 hours prior to their visit;
• check-in at the Public Safety Office upon arrival to campus;
• wear masks when on campus property; and
• maintain safe social distancing of 6 feet or more. 

Visitors, including non-resident students, will not be allowed in the residence halls unless approved by the Interim Dean of Students. All visitors to residence halls will be required to check-in upon arrival to allow for contact tracing should that become necessary.

The Bookstore is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Bookstore website

Up to two other on-campus resident students will be allowed to visit your room at the same time.  You and they must follow our current visitation policy and the “Keep Waynesburg Well” Plan requirements regarding masks and social distancing.  Non-resident students (commuters) and other visitors are not permitted in the residence halls. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct, which has been amended for COVID-19. 

Yes, operational hours have changed to:

• Monday to Thursday:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday:  8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: Noon to 6:00 p.m.

The limit will be 20 people per floor to enable appropriate social distancing.

Similar to the NCAA standards that the University is following, individuals actively engaging in exercise do not have to wear a mask. A mask must be worn at all other times. Student workers will be wearing masks and disposable gloves when necessary. 

The new cardio equipment along the balcony are spaced 6 feet apart and will be open at all times unless there is piece that is out of service due to repair. 

The remainder of the floor will be used every other piece so appropriate spacing and social distancing can take place.  This will be rotated weekly so all pieces will be available at various times.

Waynesburg University will be limiting visitors to campus. Visitors include vendors, contractors, invitees, guests, and prospective students and their families or guests. Wherever possible, vendors should do their work remotely.

If visitors must access campus, they must:

• schedule appointments in advance with the office they intend to visit;
• submit a Screening Form 24 hours prior to their visit;
• check-in at the Public Safety Office upon arrival to campus;
• wear masks when on campus property; and
• maintain safe social distancing of 6 feet or more. 

Waynesburg University is currently hosting personal campus visits, which will be modified at this time to encourage social distancing. The visit will include a meeting with an Admissions Counselor and a campus tour. Please review the guidelines below before registering for a personal visit:

• All visitors will be required to complete an electronic screening before their visit. This includes parents or guests attending the visit. The screening will be sent to the email provided on the visit registration form 48 hours before a scheduled visit.
• Masks are required to be worn by all visitors
• Limit the number of guests you bring with you to campus (Student +2)
• Please schedule your visit at least one week in advance

Register for a personal visit 

We are also pleased to offer ways to connect virtually. We're currently offering FaceTime and Skype meetings as well as phone calls with our Admissions Counselors. Register for a virtual meeting 

Yes, masks must be worn by all visitors for the duration of their visit. 

To accommodate social distancing and to protect our campus community, we ask you to limit the number of guests who attend your visit to the student plus two.

​​​​​​To accommodate social distancing and to protect you and our campus community, we are limiting the number of visitors each day. Once a visit is full, it is no longer available on the calendar.

Visits are limited to a meeting with an admissions counselor and campus tour only. Currently, meetings with coaches or faculty will be conducted virtually.

If the University is forced or determines that it must discontinue on-campus operations, room and board charges will be refunded using the percentage calculation described in the Institutional Refund Policy contained in the 2020-21 Academic Catalog. Please note that resident students who were awarded Achievement Awards were provided an amount that is more than the amount awarded to Non-Resident Students in order to help cover room and board charges. In those cases, the award will be adjusted downward to reflect that the student is no longer living in the residence hall and has received a pro-rata refund of room and board for the time period when the campus is closed.  

This adjustment to the award will be made using the same pro-rata percentage that was applied to the room and board charges. For additional details, please refer to the academic catalog at Waynesburg.edu/catalog.  Please note further that if the University transitions to remote course instruction there will be no refund of tuition.

All triples and quads are being reduced to doubles to decrease the overall number of students residing in each residence hall. We are currently in the process of reconfiguring housing assignments for the 20-21 year to make these changes.

​​​​​​Your billing will only change if the housing option you are reassigned to has a lower associated cost than the room you were initially assigned to. The cost you are paying for residency will not increase.

Our Code of Conduct has been amended and our Housing and Food Service Contract now includes a COVID-19 Addendum. You will need to review both documents and sign off on the Housing and Food Service Contract. Your housing assignment will not change though.

Community utensils such as silverware, cups and pots will not be permitted to be stored in the kitchen areas of the residence halls. Each resident will be required to provide these items. The suite style kitchen refrigerators will not be used at this time. Residents are required to use the mini-fridges in their rooms. 

If they are another resident student on campus, they will be allowed to follow our current visitation policy. Commuter students and others will not be permitted in the residence halls. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct, which has been amended for COVID-19. 

Waynesburg University signed the Certification and Agreement for the CARES Act for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF.)  As a result, the University received $721,351 in institutional funding on May 4, 2020.  This funding was utilized to partially reimburse the University for refunds that it made to students for room and board charges; as a result of the significant changes to the delivery of instruction, due to the coronavirus.

6/11/2020 UPDATE: 1,087 students completed the CARES Act Certification form to request the funding. Each of the 1,087 students received a payment of $663.62. Disbursements were made on Monday, June 8, 2020.

5/13/2020: Waynesburg University signed the Certification and Agreement for the CARES Act for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF.) As a result, the University received $721,352 on April 25, 2020, to distribute to eligible students.

The CARES Act defines basic student eligibility requirements, while permitting the University to determine the distribution method.

To qualify for CARES Act grants, students must be eligible to participate in Title IV programs as outlined in section 484 of the Higher Education Act. Students who received any federal financial aid in the 2019-2020 academic year, including federal student loans, meet the Title IV requirement. It is not necessary, however, for students to have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who did not file a FAFSA and are unsure of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs should refer to the list at the bottom of this section.

Unfortunately, the CARES Act prohibits the distribution of funds to students who were enrolled in a fully-online program in Spring 2020 prior to the campus shutdown.

Grant recipients must use the money “for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.”

The University expects to notify students who meet preliminary eligibility requirements during the week of May 18. To receive a grant, those students must complete a CARES Act Grant Certification form. On the form, students will be asked to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements for Title IV aid and that they will use the grant funds in accordance with federal regulations. Instructions for accessing the form will be included in the notification letter to students who meet preliminary eligibility requirements.

The University plans to equitably distribute the funds to all eligible students who submit the CARES Act Grant Certification form by June 1. We estimate that 1,357 students meet the preliminary eligibility requirements, but will finalize that total after all forms are received on the June 1, 2020, deadline. As stated earlier, the full amount of $721,352 will be equitably distributed, with an anticipated minimum disbursement amount of $500.

To be a Title IV-eligible student under Section 484 of the HEA, the student must:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled)--that is, a regular student under 34 CFR 600.2);
• Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school and have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
• Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) if the student is a currently enrolled student;
• Not owe an overpayment (refund) on Title IV grants;
• Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
• File with ED “as part of the original financial aid application process” a certification (Statement of Educational Purpose) that includes:
  • A statement of educational purpose, and
  • The student’s Social Security Number (SSN);
• Be a U.S citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen;
• Have returned any fraudulently obtained Title IV funds, if the student is convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges;
• Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits;
• Have repaid any Title IV loan overpayment amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits, if obtained inadvertently;
• Have his Selective Service registration verified (the Title IV aid ineligibility for failure to register is actually in the Selective Service Act §3811(f));
• Have a valid SSN, except for residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau; and
• Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.