UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of Penn State’s Back to State plans shared at a town hall meeting in preparation for the fall, the University has developed requirements and expectations for students to meet prior to returning to campus and local communities this semester. Along with stocking up on face masks, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectant wipes, students should prepare for back to school by reviewing the following criteria and completing these steps:

Before returning to Penn State, all undergraduate and graduate students at every campus location must:

• Read and sign the new required “Penn State Coronavirus Compact” that outlines expectations for the semester.
• Complete mandatory pre-arrival COVID-19 testing, if notified. Select students living in counties across the United States with high infection rates will be contacted by the University on an individual basis in August to complete mandatory testing.
• Self-quarantine for at least 7 days immediately prior to arrival.
• Review Penn State and local requirements for masking and social distancing.

https://news.psu.edu/story/627219/2020/07/30/administration/pre-arrival-requirements-penn-state-students-return-campus

Penn State President Eric Barron will host a virtual Town Hall event at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, to provide updates and discuss the University’s plans for the start of fall semester. The event will be shown on LiveEvents.psu.edu, and will be archived and online for later viewing. 

https://news.psu.edu/story/626871/2020/07/27/administration/july-30-virtual-town-hall-focus-updates-specific-plans-fall

Penn State to resume on-campus work and learning in fall semester

Following a three-month comprehensive planning process involving more than 250 faculty, staff and administrators across 16 task groups, Penn State officials have determined the University can meet or exceed the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines for colleges and universities to return to campus and look forward to welcoming back faculty, staff and students to resume on-campus, in-person classes and other activities this fall in a limited fashion.

Considering the views expressed in survey results and other feedback from students and employees, the groups’ overarching goal has been to develop a plan to continue the research and educational mission of the University while providing for the physical and psychological health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

Penn State will begin to have students and employees return to campuses in phases, starting this summer, and will have comprehensive prevention and public health procedures and strategies in place—including mask-wearing and social distancing—to protect the health and safety of students and employees. For students who are unable to return to any campus this fall, there are flexible options so that they can continue to make progress toward their degrees.

For more information:
https://virusinfo.psu.edu/back-to-state/

“Campus Recreation will remain open for informal recreation only. All of our other classes and programs and services are on temporary hold until further notice. This includes group fitness classes, Yoga programs, dance programs, personal training, small group sessions. and martial arts. Anyone who registered and paid for a Session 2 fee-for-service class will be refunded their entire fee and will be informed if/when Session 3 is definite. Please reach out to me (xjg1@psu.edu) if you have any questions or concerns about this. “

Jill Garrigan
Assistant Director of Campus Recreation, Fitness and Wellness

Penn State President Eric J. Barron has shared the following message with the University community, announcing a move to remote instruction starting March 16 in response to the global coronavirus outbreak.

President Barron’s message to the University community:

https://news.psu.edu/story/611757/2020/03/11/academics/all-penn-state-classes-take-place-remotely-beginning-march-16