East Stroudsburg University President Marcia G. Welsh announced that the University would return to remote instruction for the majority of its Fall 2020 semester.<\/p>\n
In her message to ESU students faculty and staff, she wrote, \u201cAs we, along with the rest of the country, continue to monitor the latest data related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot ignore the risks to the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and local community.\u00a0While we were certain we could all return to campus with a \u201cnew normal\u201d this fall, we know now that this is not the safest, most realistic, option for our greater ESU community.\u201d<\/p>\n
This Fall, ESU will offer a very limited number of classes in a hybrid format, meaning both remote and in-person, to assist students with student teaching, clinical placements, internships, etc.\u00a0Students were released from all on-campus housing contracts for the Fall 2020 semester and residential life is developing plans to welcome a limited number of students to live on campus with added precautions for their health and well-being. Priority will be given to students who are in academic placements (i.e. student teachers, clinical placements, and internship sites), international students or other special circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know it is important now, more than ever, to have highly trained professionals ready to work in our community,\u201d said Dr. Welsh. \u201cWhile this will have major implications for many in our community, we must continue to always put your safety as a top priority. We are committed to ensuring our students reach their educational and professional goals. We must all work toward the goal of a safe reopening and the return to some level of campus normal. What we, and you, do between now and December will determine what happens in January.\u201d<\/p>\n