College Update - Final Grade Options and Possible June Restart

We are nearly two months into Emergency Order #5 Prohibiting Mass Gatherings of 10 People or More issued on March 17 and Emergency Order #12 Safer-at-Home issued on March 24 by Governor Evers. In some ways, it seems like a lifetime ago. Our world has rapidly changed and it continues to be a fluid situation with few knowns.

Our most immediate concern continues to be how we can successfully finish the Spring semester. While many of our courses will successfully end on May 11 on time, the programs/courses that require hands-on lab experiences are areas where we need to reopen the campus allowing students the opportunity to complete their coursework.

This is likely a Spring semester we will never forget. As the end of the semester approaches, I want to remind you of your available options including the option of a late Withdrawal (W) from your course(s).

• The Spring semester officially ends on May 11. Students will have until June 12 to complete their work. All final grades are due on June 13.
• Students will have the ability to select their letter grade earned, an Incomplete (I), a PASS/FAIL, or request a Withdrawal (W). The PASS grade would be for letter grades of D or above. I want to reiterate that this is the student’s choice, not the instructor’s.
• For any courses that are unable to deliver the education necessary due to our inability to provide hands-on activities, including clinical hours, by June 12, students will have the option to receive an Incomplete (I) for the course to allow for completion of any learning activities during Summer and Fall 2020 terms. An incomplete is an agreement between the student and instructor for course completion.
• Students who are unable to complete the course material for reasons related to the COVID-19 Health Emergency and not interested in completing the course in the future can request a Withdrawal (W), followed by submission of a Request for Exception to Refund Policy to request a refund for course tuition and fees.

As the country and our state wrestle with lifting the Safer-at-Home orders and what the next step would look like, it does appear likely that we will be able to partially re-open campuses in late May or early June. Although this has not been announced, it is prudent to begin contingency planning for a May/June “restart.” When we do reopen, it will be on a limited basis to serve only those students who need to complete their work. We will reopen in a fashion that follows any additional executive orders of the Governor and the safety standards already established.

Thank you,

Tracy Pierner, Ph.D., President