Keep Waynesburg Well

The strategies listed below are consistent with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines and considerations for resuming in-person instruction and other operations at postsecondary institutions, as well as the guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control.

WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO:

1. Expect all members of the University community to accept personal responsibility for protecting themselves and others by practicing safe behaviors and being considerate and respectful of others. 
2. Coordinate with local, regional, state and federal public health officials, as well as outside experts.
3. Safely continue in-person instruction.
4. Monitor health conditions on campus and within the campus community.
5. Mitigate and contain spread of the virus and inform the Department of Health in the event that transmission occurs on campus.
6. Create an environment conducive to healthy, safe and inclusive learning and working.
7. Communicate accurate and timely information to students, faculty, staff, and various other community constituents and partners through a multitude of channels.
8. Develop alternate plans for rapid implementation in the event of a resurgence.

Since March 2020, a number of campus-wide teams have been evaluating all aspects of campus life and operations for a return to in-person instruction and on-campus operations, activities, and services. These teams have merged to form the  “Keep Waynesburg Well Team.” The Keep Waynesburg Well Team will continue its work throughout the 22-23 academic year to appropriately modify the Keep Waynesburg Well Health and Safety Plan. With the assistance of external experts providing professional, scientific, medical, legal, architectural, and logistical guidance and resources, this cross-campus team will work through subcommittees to develop specific plans to address the needs of the campus community and will continuously update processes and procedures as necessary to address issues and developments related to COVID-19. 

The University has been guided by federal, state and local agencies, including, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the United States Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, Waynesburg Borough Police, Greene County's Emergency Management Office, Pennsylvania’s Region 13 Critical Infrastructure Specialists, and other governmental and private agencies.

Waynesburg University has consulted with Greene County’s Emergency Management Office as well as Pennsylvania’s Region 13 Critical Infrastructure Specialists to best align with regional COVID-19 mandates and crisis response expectations. This partnership also provides for potential resourcing and incident management support should a second wave of the pandemic overwhelm existing resources at the University.

Additionally, close coordination with local and state law enforcement (Waynesburg Borough Police and Pennsylvania State Police) has been established to ensure appropriate collaboration on health, safety, and crisis management needs. This includes formalizing the agreement with local EMS transport vehicles for transferring COVID-19 symptomatic patients to the hospital or a health care facility, as well as coordination with plans to move students off-campus into the community as on-campus housing needs are adjusted for 22-23 academic year.

Waynesburg University continues to have a formal partnership with the Washington Health System in order to consult with medical and infectious disease experts in our region who can best provide the needed resources to Waynesburg’s students and employees.

This partnership with a regional, professional health management system provides not only expert guidance on Waynesburg’s screening processes and self-assessment tools, but also important guidance and resources with respect to COVID-19 testing, temperature taking, and advanced hospital care for those who require it.

Waynesburg University's policies pertaining to academics, personnel and residence life have been assessed and adjusted accordingly to be in compliance with CDC best practices and recommendations by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The University has established criteria for assessing vulnerable populations and a process for accommodating vulnerable individuals.

STUDENTS

• HOUSING AND INSTRUCTIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS: 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. 
• STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: The Student Code of Conduct has been revised to reflect the guidance in this plan.  
• HOUSIng: Traditional dormitory and housing assignments have resumed pre-pandemic occupancy levels, including all triple and quad-type communal housing. Off-campus housing policies continue to be accessed and modified to provide students with a range of housing options toward the best interest of both the student experience and stopping the COVID spread. 
• MOVE IN: Specific details regarding move-in dates will be communicated to students directly via email from Student Development.
• ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND TRAVEL: On-campus activities and events will be hosted using a combination of pre-pandemic protocols and the guidelines and protocols in this plan, including practices related to sanitation, enhanced ventilation, and optional masking. Students will be permitted to participate in off-campus activities and travel, and will be expected to adhere to the guidelines in this plan, as well as industry, venue, and government restrictions and requirements, such as vaccine mandates, masking, and quarantine or testing upon arrival. Coaches, program directors, organization advisors, and department/division supervisors will communicate directly with students participating in activities. Please refer to the specific office, department or team for more detailed information and updates.

Personnel

• WORK ACCOMMODATIONS: Human Resources will coordinate with supervisors and work with faculty and staff on appropriate workplace accommodations. Employees who may need an accommodation should contact the Human Resources Office.
• ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND TRAVEL: On-campus activities and events will be hosted using a combination of pre-pandemic protocols and the guidelines and protocols in this plan, including practices related to sanitation, enhanced ventilation, and optional masking. Division supervisors will coordinate guidelines for off-campus activities, events, and travel guidelines with employees based on the needs in their own divisions consistent with the guidelines in this plan. Employees will be expected to adhere to the guidelines in this plan, as well as industry, venue, and government restrictions and requirements, such as vaccine mandates, masking, and quarantine or testing upon arrival. Please refer to your division supervisor or Human Resources for more detailed information and updates.

 The academic calendar, mode of instruction, course location and assigned faculty are subject to change.

View the 2022 fall calendar

COURSE DELIVERY OPTIONS

The majority of courses will continue to be delivered through in-person instruction in classrooms for the 22-23 academic year. Please note that when the University deems it appropriate, courses may be changed or offered remotely or in a hybrid format, with part of the class delivered in person and part of the course delivered remotely. If a change in course format occurs, the tuition and fees associated with such course shall remain unchanged.