April 8, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
In the midst of our quickly changing environment, I want to share some recent college decisions. Provost Lisa Angelo, senior staff, the Faculty Federation and I are working collaboratively to make the best decisions with the information we have. First and foremost, we want to ensure everyone’s safety and to comply with the Governor’s stay at home order for all but essential staff.
Spring Semester
The College has decided
to extend the
remote instruction period through the end of Spring semester. All Spring 2020 courses that can be completed remotely shall do so
. A small number of Spring 2020 courses cannot complete remotely due to lab, studio work, or other needs. A list of affected course offerings is
attached for your reference
. Faculty who teach these sections will be in contact with their students soon regarding how outstanding course requirements will be completed. In all cases, students in these sections will receive an “I” or Incomplete grade for the course, and will be able to complete remaining face-to-face components during the summer, but no later than September 24. Once this remaining coursework is completed, the “I” grade will be replaced by the final letter grade the student ultimately earns.
If you are a student planning on graduating this May, and one of the courses you need to graduate is on the list of those sections that cannot be completed remotely, your graduation date will be extended to August. These students should plan to complete the work needed to earn a final grade no later than
August 15
. Courses completed with final letter grades entered by August 15 will be graduated and issued their degree or certificate by
August 31
.
Pass/No Pass Option for Spring Semester Final Grading
In light of the unanticipated and sudden alteration of course delivery modality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the College is offering students the option to pursue Pass/No Pass grading for any or all of their Spring 2020 courses. Students may make this choice
after
faculty have posted
final grades. If students opt to receive a grade of “Pass” or “No Pass,” the grade for the course
will not impact
their GPA. More information about this option, including a FAQ, will be posted on bucks.edu soon. Students should continue to check their Bucks email accounts regularly to ensure that they receive this information in a timely fashion. Each student’s situation is different, with possible implications for choosing the P/NP option. Please be sure to fully understand your situation and future plans prior to making this choice, after final grades have been posted.
To ensure that eligible students can graduate on time and be ready to pursue transfer plans, it is imperative that faculty submit final grades in Self Service no later than the official due date of May 18.
Summer I: May 20-June 30 (6-week session) & May 20-August 11 (12-week session)
The College plans to conduct all instruction for the Summer I 6-week sessions
remotely
(including both currently scheduled face-to-face and hybrid courses)
.
Remote instruction may take a variety of forms, such as through asynchronous online delivery using the College’s learning management system or synchronous web conferencing during the course’s scheduled class times. The first 6 weeks of the 12 week Summer I courses will also be via remote instruction.
Courses already scheduled as fully online – those with an “E” in their section code – will remain unchanged.
No decisions have been made yet for the remaining 6 weeks of the 12 week Summer I courses or for Summer II (June 10 - August 11) or Summer III (July 1 – August 11).
If the state or other governmental authorities ultimately deem it safe to return to the College’s physical locations before the close of the Summer I session, decisions as to on-site completion of coursework will be made on a case-by-case basis. Though the need for access to campus facilities such as labs and studios will be considered, the safety of all members of the College community will be the first priority.
Commencement
The College is shifting commencement from an in-person event to a virtual one on
the evening of May 28
. More details will follow soon. We are working to ensure that every graduating student has an opportunity to be recognized and to celebrate their accomplishment.
College Campuses & Staff
In keeping with the Governor’s order, all Bucks County Community College
campuses
remain closed until further notice. While the physical campuses are closed, except to life-essential staff, the College is operating remotely. The remote work period for College staff is indefinite, until we receive permission to reopen from the Governor’ office.
Students are asked to direct any questions to their faculty member or to the appropriate
Student Support Services
department.
We are doing our best to make and communicate plans so you know what to expect in the coming weeks. As you continue to teach, learn and work within the confines of your home, know that the college is here to help if you are having difficulties. Stay safe and healthy. We are #BucksCCCStrong.
With Gratitude,
Stephanie
Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt
President
