March 18, 2020

Dear Student: 

It is important that you read this letter in its entirety and review all of the enclosed content.

As of today, we are announcing significant additional measures to provide safeguards for you and the campus community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• The University is open. However, please note thatsome offices will be operating on a modified plan. All faculty, staff, student services, and campus resources are able to be reached at their appropriate email and/or office phone number; accompanying this letter is a list of key student resources with contact information. 

• CSU is extending Spring Break for students until Sunday, March 29. Spring Break is currently in effect and will now extend through to Sunday, March 29. 

• In-person class instruction is suspended beginning March 30 through the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Courses will resume March 30 through Moodle in a modified format (E-Learning) and run through May 9 for the conclusion of the final exam period. Please reach out to your course instructor to discuss the format for E-Learning. 

• Students will not report to campus for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Students are required to attend classes through the modified format during their scheduled class times during the e-learning period. In the coming days, students will be contacted by their instructors on the alternative delivery method of instruction for their courses. 

• You are required to contact your academic advisor by phone or by email. Accompanying this letter is a list of academic advisors. If you do not know who your academic advisor is, please reach out to Candy Bennett, Program and Advising Coordinator, at cbenne20@csu.edu or (773) 995-4521 who will be able to assist. 

• If you have limited access to technology that will allow you to engage in E-Learning, please contact CSU staff at coronavirus@csu.edu or call (773) 995-3963. If you are having technical difficulty accessing Moodle and E-Learning resources, please contact elearning@csu.edu or (773) 995-2960. If you have specific questions or concerns about technology, please contact the IT Helpdesk at helpdesk@csu.edu or (773) 995-3963. 

• Students with accommodations are asked to contact the Abilities Office. Please contact Shenay Bridges-Carter, Interim Coordinator for the Abilities Office, at sbridg21@csu.edu or (773)821-2893.
  • The University Library will remain available to students who need access to technology, including internet-enabled computers; students are encouraged to make appointments with reference services, circulation, and archives (contact information is included in the list of student resources accompanying this letter). Beginning on March 16 and continuing through to May 9, the library hours are as follows:
    • Library hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm (closed on Sundays). 
  • Any students currently in the residence hall who can safely return to their permanent home for the rest of the Spring 2020 semester are instructed to do so. The University will consider hardship cases on a one-on-one basis. Please contact Tyeisha Banks, Interim Director of Housing and Residence Life, at tbanks29@csu.edu or (773)821-2411, should you have any questions. 
  • Residence and dining halls will remain open to accommodate residence hall students who must stay on campus and are not in a position to return to their permanent home. Dining services will continue to be available to students with the following modified hours:

  Dining Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10am-2pm and 4-6pm

  • Federal Work-Study Students, Graduate Assistants, and On-Campus Student Employees are not required to report to work for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Your supervisor will work with you to ensure that your pre-approved funding, stipends, or salaries based on regular hours of employment will be provided through the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. 
  • Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 course registration begins on April 15. Our Admissions, Financial Aid, and Registration staff are available to speak to you over the phone and through email to help you meet your academic plans:
    • Admissions: (773) 995-2513 / ug-admissions@csu.edu or graduateprograms@csu.edu
    • Financial Aid: (773) 995-2304 / csu-finaid@csu.edu
    • Registration and Evaluations: (773) 995-2517 / CSU-Registrar@csu.edu 

  Keep this letter and its contents in a safe place; you will continue to receive updates from the University and your instructors through your CSU email address. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that you continue to monitor your CSU email and our website (https://www.csu.edu) for updates regarding this evolving situation. Additional student information is included with this letter and links to student resources are available at https://www.csu.edu/covid19updates. 

  While this situation is rare, we thank you for your patience as we work to address these adjustments together with your faculty and academic support staff to provide the least disruption to your higher education as possible. We remain grounded in our mission to educate, and we are committed to our values of academic excellence and responsibility.

Sincerely,

Zaldwaynaka Scott, Esq.

President