JAMES MEAD
Web Editor
To address confusion caused by SUNY Fredonia’s semester-long shift to distance learning in response to coronavirus, the Marketing & Communications department has created two web-pages with more information under fredonia.edu.
The “Coronavirus information” page addresses coronavirus and how it connects to Fredonia and Chautauqua County as a whole.
It provides all official memos sent by the campus administration regarding coronavirus, the current regional status of coronavirus cases, as well as additional resources provided by entities such as New York State, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
The “Coronavirus FAQ” page addresses campus-specific concerns, including how academics, campus operations, campus living and student activities are impacted.
Both pages are expected to be continually updated as more information is made available, so it’s advisable to revisit them every few days.
Some major takeaways:
The SUNY Fredonia campus is expected to remain open.
Students are permitted to stay on campus during break, as well as for the rest of the semester.
All students who live on campus are expected to notify the Office of Residence Life by March 19 whether they intend to remain on campus for the rest of the semester or whether they intend to move out by March 19. Those that intend to leave, but cannot move out by March 19, should also notify them.
Housing and meal plan refunds for those that do move out are currently under discussion and will likely be decided by the SUNY system as a whole.
All campus offices (including, but not limited to, academic departments, Reed Library and ITS Service Center) will remain open, and staff will be expected to continue to report to work. Hours may change, so the best information will be found by checking each department’s web-page or by contacting them.
Regarding campus dining, Cranston Marche and Starbucks will remain open, but the availability of other dining options is not known at this time. As with campus offices, hours may change, so expect FSA to publish them on their web-page and in future emails.
Accommodations are anticipated to be made for students who need access to specialized facilities or equipment, but solutions are still in the process of being developed.
At this time, all student shows, performances and events for the semester can be presumed cancelled or modified, and no “large-scale” campus life activities will occur.
While the most recent coronavirus memo states that “there will definitely be some form of Commencement for the Class of 2020,” the status of Commencement 2020 is still unknown at this time and will likely not be answered until further into the semester.