Update from the Dean of Students Office

July 14, 2020

Dear Wildcats,

Many of you reached out over the weekend with questions regarding The Path Forward plans for the upcoming fall semester. I wanted to take a moment to answer some of your questions and provide additional information. We understand that students are being asked to live, learn, work and engage with one another in different ways, but you are all resilient and together we will navigate through these unusual times.

Whether this is your first year at Bay Path or you are a rising Sophomore, Junior or Senior, know that we are here for you! So please stay committed and engaged, and let’s weather this journey together because often through adversity comes strength.

I encourage you to continue submitting questions to the covid19info@baypath.edu email box; we will work to answer all of your inquiries timely. Also, continue to check your Bay Path email and The Path Forward web page for updates. Thank you for being a part of the Bay Path community.

Carpe Diem!
Dean Anne

Housing for Sophomores and Juniors:

To help manage the health and safety of our community, we must limit the number of students in the residential halls this fall. Also, all rooms will be single-occupancy. We recognize this is hard for those who hoped to live on campus but may need to live remotely during this time instead. We are reviewing housing requests to assign and immerse our newest members into the Bay Path community, first-years and transfers, as well as seniors who will be finishing their degree this year. In addition, we will be considering those students who request special consideration.

An email from the residence life and learning team will be forthcoming for those wishing to request special consideration for on campus housing. As we work through these requests and determine all our possible availability, please know we are also exploring additional options for off-campus housing. We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.

We would love nothing more than to accommodate all of our students this fall. This is an interim plan for the fall semester and it is my sincere hope that we will be able to return to double occupancy in the near future.

Regarding Roommates

I know many of you were looking forward to having a roommate this fall. To maintain the health and safety of our community, residential housing will look a little different this fall than it usually does. This means each student will have a single-occupancy space with no roommates, even if you have already selected a roommate. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this decision and we do hope you understand. This is an interim plan while we are amid the pandemic, and once we are beyond these COVID19 times and feel it’s safe to do so, we will look to returning to allowing students to share space. I cannot give a specific date at this time but will certainly keep you posted. I would not expect a change this fall.

Please be sure to check out the HOUSING & DINING section of our website for more information about Bay Path's plan for the Fall.

Tuition

Q. Will my tuition be less if I am taking online classes?

A. No. The tuition for the traditional undergraduate program will not change for the 2020-2021 academic year. Our commitment to delivering a quality education will not change either. Our dedicated faculty and staff will continue to teach and support each student with individual attention. And as a University, we have over a decade in online expertise in curating the tools and resources that can readily support an engaging student learning experience. The resources you have come to depend on—your faculty, the library, the advising center, tutoring, career services, technology support, health services, and the counseling service, will remain available and accessible to you, even in a virtual environment. Our student life division is also working on fun ways to host activities virtually. Student clubs and organizations are planning for this fall, but they may look a little different.

Q. If I am permitted to reside on-campus, will there be a discount on the cost of room and board because services have been altered?

A. No. The cost of room and board for students permitted to reside on campus will not change. Students living on campus will be provided a single room at the double occupancy rate and will receive the same number of meals per the meal plan selected. The Carpe Diem Café will be open for students, too. Please note the menu selection may change to be in accordance with state and local public health requirements for the University.

Q. Will I still be charged for lab fees if my classes are online?

A. Yes. We fully intend to offer a vibrant lab experience, whether your labs are on ground or online. The intent is to replicate what you would learn on ground to the online environment, which may consist of using software, virtual tools, and materials remotely to achieve the same results.

Q. If I chose to change my status from resident to commuter, will I get a refund?

A. You can change your status from resident to commuter until the end of the add/drop deadline without financial penalty. To change your status, please email Lindsie Lavin, Executive Director of Student Life & Commencement. Once you officially declare that your status has changed and our systems have been updated, your student account will be credited.

Course Schedules

As described in our Fall 2020 plan, The Path Forward, courses will be offered either fully online or in a hybrid format combining online and in-person learning.

I know you are eager to understand what your schedule will look like. Changes to course offerings will be completed in the portal by the Registrar's office the week of July 20th. Additional information will be available at that time regarding the specific format and times in which your courses will be delivered. If your schedule has been impacted, you will be contacted by student support staff to discuss your options. You may also reach out to your advisor or advising@baypath.edu to address course changes once they are posted.

IPADS

The A&IT department is finalizing its plans for the distribution and eligibility of devices based on the recent Path Forward announcement. Please be on the lookout for communications regarding technology both for the incoming first-year and returning students. We are dedicated to making sure that students have the technology they need to succeed virtually.