FAQs

The tuition reduction for students studying from home reflects their lack of access to campus facilities and the richer experience of learning among one’s peers. Students living on or near campus have some access to many campus buildings and services, including high-speed WiFi while on campus; the library, dining halls, fitness center, and common computing spaces; and some academic spaces as needed.

In addition, students living on or near campus will be part of the student community and share responsibility in creating a safe and healthy environment for all. The health center will conduct testing and monitoring for all students and is poised to provide medical care for any student who is not learning from home. In order to maintain the safety of the entire community, all students who are part of the local social network must follow the same safety protocols. With the specific rules for 2020-21 related to COVID-19, the limits we have set on the size of gatherings are to protect our campus and the Easton community as a whole.

This summer the faculty and staff have been working tirelessly to prepare for the fall semester, knowing there was the possibility that we might have to start or transition to remote instruction at some point during the term. The final weeks before the start of the semester will allow us to finish all of those preparations. Professors will be implementing strategies to effectively teach challenging and engaging courses; staff are prepared to offer the support to remote Leopards just like we do when we gather on campus; and ITS has invested in the technology and training needed to support our ambitious agenda for fall 2020. Teletherapy services will be provided in accordance with the state licensing laws that apply to where the student resides.

The College’s decision to move to an online semester is meant to keep students at home. Students are not permitted to rent private apartments unless already given permission to do so by the Residence Life Office. This is not solely due to our four-year residency requirement, but also to help protect the College Hill community. Students who are not already approved to rent privately will be required to reside in college housing when they return for the spring semester. As a reminder, students who are not approved to access campus and do so will face significant disciplinary consequences, including suspension from the College.

Yes, dining services will operate and students will have access to all-you-care-to-eat meals and grab-and-go options. Dining services staff will need to serve all food (no buffet style) in the all you care to eat venues.

Students who have private leases with McCartney North and South, or other off-campus landlords, will be allowed on campus. Students will be asked to confirm their plans to live in private housing by July 29.

Students should contact the property manager for McCartney North and South to discuss ending their lease. Once approved, the College will be notified to change the student status to learn from home.

Students who contracted with one of the College’s endorsed storage companies will receive a direct communication by Aug. 3.

Yes. Residence Life has its own set of Fall 2020 FAQs.

This year’s virtual Orientation will provide new students with the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, student leaders, and other new students at Lafayette. Orientation familiarizes new students with our shared community and academic values and expectations, encourages an understanding of the importance of operating in Lafayette’s pluralistic and inclusive community, introduces resources that can assist in making a successful transition to college life, and aims to instill an appreciation for the value of an academically rigorous and diverse community. Phase 1 of Orientation has been ongoing throughout the summer and has consisted of virtual opportunities such as the Faculty Advising Drop-In Hours, Faculty Themed Discussions, and Campus Resource Drop-In Sessions. Phase 2 of Orientation will begin on Thursday, Aug. 13, and will conclude by Sunday, Aug. 16. Every new student will hear from their orientation leader in August about their specific virtual Orientation schedule, which will consist of events including Convocation, A Day in the Life of a Lafayette Student skits, sustainability programming, Achieving Academic Success, wellness programs, interactive games and activities such as the Marquis Mission competition, Getting to Know the Career Center, a Title IX discussion, and other important sessions.

You can study remotely while in the United States either away from campus or on campus. To comply with SEVIS reporting requirements and the College’s arrival deadlines, you will need to indicate in a forthcoming survey from the Office of International Student Advising where you will be spending the semester.

All international students may fully engage in Lafayette’s remote offerings from their home country. An upper-level international student with a valid F-1 visa may return to the U.S. to pursue online study but must comply with SEVIS reporting requirements and the College’s arrival deadlines. In accordance with current SEVP guidance, first-year students may not enter the U.S. and take their first semester online. Existing SEVIS records will be updated accordingly.

International Orientation will take place virtually throughout the fall semester with a kickoff event on Aug. 2. A detailed schedule of upcoming events will be shared that day.

In order to keep campus density low, we will allow a minimal number of students to return to campus, based on this application process. At most, we anticipate accommodating about 20 percent of our students in campus housing. We also anticipate that some students who received prior approval and have leases with private landlords, including McCartney North and South, can choose to return but need to inform the College.

Students will be required to wear masks, and no athletic events or other large campus gatherings will be held. Students will receive a Guide to Campus Life with information about recreation, counseling, and dining. Upon arriving on campus, students will receive a COVID-19 addendum to the Student Handbook that will include adherence to physical distancing protocols; limits on social gatherings and travel off-campus; and participation in all testing, tracing, and symptom-checking activities. While we will maneuver in the space differently, there will be options to meet people, but we will monitor disease activity. Students who come to campus must consider those in their residence hall as a group, not unlike a family that spends most of its time with each other.

We anticipate very limited in-person activities as it is important to include our entire community in our programming. Most College-sponsored activities that are held virtually can be accessed by those on campus and those learning from home. Programming done in person must observe all physical distancing guidelines, and masks must be worn.

Yes.

No, but students will have both grab-and-go and all-you-care-to-eat options. Depending on local/state restrictions it may become necessary to transition to mostly grab-and-go meals.  Students will be expected to have a meal plan commensurate with their class year and living environment.  

No. We need to minimize the number of visitors to campus for health and safety reasons, and someone who is not an on-campus resident or living on College Hill may not visit campus.

Students who reside on campus are expected to remain in the Lehigh Valley. Students who are learning from home are not permitted to visit campus.

Yes, including wearing of masks, practicing social distancing, and forbidding cross-visitation and guests. Please review Residence Life’s set of Fall 2020 FAQs.

Yes, two masks will be provided to faculty and staff who must be on campus. Faculty and staff will receive their masks through their departments; students will receive their masks when they arrive at the pre-move-in testing location. Additional/replacement masks can be purchased at the College Store. Individuals also are welcome to supplement College-provided masks with their own.

The concept of collective responsibility requires that members of the community hold each other accountable for adhering to the behaviors that will help keep us all safe. We hope that our ongoing educational program will help reinforce the importance of these behaviors. However, if any member of the community has concerns, those can be addressed best by emailing covid-19@lafayette.edu.

Yes, for limited hours as long as permitted by the state (Northampton County remains in green phase). Students will be required to register for a time slot using IMLeagues, and registration will be limited to those students with permission to be on campus. Masks must be worn at all times in the facility, limited services are available, and physical distancing will be achieved by reducing pieces of equipment for use. The pool will not be open.

Yes, students will be tested upon arrival and participate in monitoring testing thereafter. This will help rapidly identify those who should be isolated immediately, limiting introduction of the virus to campus. Combining initial testing with ongoing monitoring of a specific percentage of the student population will assist in identifying small clusters of disease before community spreading can occur.

Please visit the Class of 2024 website for details about orientation and other events.

Divisional vice presidents (or equivalent) will continue to make determinations on which staff members can fulfill professional obligations from home. Faculty and staff who need to be on campus and also need teaching/working accommodations due to health vulnerabilities or other factors should submit this brief form to HR.

Unless the Commonwealth declares that Lafayette has to cease all non-life-sustaining operations, faculty members will be able to work in their offices and laboratories. In particular, those choosing to teach from their office or from an assigned classroom will be able to do so.

Yes, two masks will be provided to faculty and staff who must be on campus. Faculty and staff will receive their masks through their departments; students will receive their masks when they arrive at the pre-move-in testing location. Additional/replacement masks can be purchased at the College Store. Individuals also are welcome to supplement College-provided masks with their own.

Testing is available for all faculty and staff who fill out a brief screening questionnaire online or at the health center. To complete the screening questionnaire online, visit the patient portal, enter your Lafayette credentials, and select “forms” on the menu. Testing for faculty and staff will be conducted at a local lab facility.

Capital BlueCross has advised that they will cover testing with no member copay when the test is ordered by a healthcare provider, including Dr. Goldstein, under circumstances such as diagnostic testing for symptoms consistent with COVID, confirmed exposure to an individual diagnosed with COVID, and/or concern about exposure to individuals or groups suspected of having COVID.

For more information on testing coverage with Capital BlueCross and resources for members, please refer to the Capital BlueCross Coronavirus Resources website.

The concept of collective responsibility requires that members of the community hold each other accountable for adhering to the behaviors that will help keep us all safe. We hope that our ongoing educational program will help reinforce the importance of these behaviors. However, if any member of the community has concerns, those can be addressed best by emailing covid-19@lafayette.edu.

Yes, the fitness center will be open to students only and for limited hours as long as permitted by the state (Northampton County remains in green phase). This may change for faculty/staff at some point during the fall semester. The pool will not be open.

We have not coordinated our decisions with school districts, but we do understand the hardship that will be created for our faculty and staff if schools are not open. Should that be the case, we will help employees find ways to balance competing priorities.

We are keeping the city and local neighborhood apprised of our plans and will make immediate notifications of COVID-19 cases on campus. Coordination with public health officials is a state guideline.

Each morning all approved on-campus students and all faculty and staff (working on campus or remotely) are expected to complete a daily symptom and history questionnaire. The personalized link with screening questions can be completed in less than a minute.

Faculty & Staff: The first question of the symptom tracker is “are you coming to campus today?” If the answer is “no” then no further questions will be asked and the daily symptom tracker is completed for that day.

Symptom tracking data: Data for faculty and staff is anonymous. Data for students is being collected. The protocols are different for students because their proximity to others in their residences puts them at greater risk.