At our most recent Parents Forum, there were a number of questions about the move-in process. Here is a summary.

ROOM ASSIGNMENTS: Room assignments are in process, but at this point it continues to be a moving target as many families are still considering their options and have not yet made a final decision. They are being filled as quickly as possible, but we do not yet have a specific date for notification. An ETA for completing all assignments is by the second week of November.

ASSISTANCE: Move-ins will be staggered, beginning Jan. 19. Students may have two helpers with them. Everyone must wear a mask at all times during move-in, and helpers will not be permitted to remain on campus once the belongings have been dropped off. A reminder as well that all students must have verification of a flu shot and all other health forms turned in prior to move-in. They will also be administered a COVID test upon arrival, before getting their keys.

MOVE-IN DATE ASSIGNMENT: Assigning move-in dates will be the next notification, after rooming assignments. We understand that students need early notification in order to comply with the quarantine at home window, so this information will be provided in time to plan for that stay at home period.

Regarding assignments from the Fall and then transferring over to spring, here are some further details: I had a western shore assignment picked out for Fall 20 before as a senior/junior, do I get that back? For seniors and juniors who chose western shore in Fall 2020- yes, the plan is to pull up the roster from that original fall assignment (just before the semester was cancelled) and use that as a guideline to house juniors and seniors in western shore- those assignments actually remained very stable and little was changed even though every other area had a lot of re-assigning due to covid.

I wasn’t assigned to the western shore but somewhere else. Can I get my old assignment back? For all other halls that were assigned, we are not guaranteeing that students will be in the same assignment for a wide variety of reasons. The process of assigning students with their suite/roommate requests has started and Residential Life will attempt to keep them in proximity to each other.

This is contingent upon housing availability, which at this point is unknown. Once all students have made their decisions for the spring semester and housing assignments have been made we will know if there is capacity to consider options for a mid-semester return. That information will be communicated once we know more. If they are approved to return at the mid-point, they will be required to follow the same testing upon arrival and the two-week quarantine upon arrival. Additionally, they will need to provide proof of the influenza vaccine (and all other health forms).

The existing student code of conduct is under review and being modified to account for COVID compliance and how failure to adhere to these safety standards will be handled. This is currently in committee and all constituencies are represented, including students. Once this is finalized, students will be informed and required to sign a pledge acknowledging their understanding of these expectations.

Parents will receive this communication as well, so that everyone is fully informed prior to the start of the semester as to the consequences of any actions that are in violation of the student code and/or put the community at risk.

Additionally, we are working with student leaders to develop a student-centered campaign to promote positive behaviors and urge students to take ownership of the actions that are necessary to keep the community safe and healthy. This will include a focus on the things that they can do and enjoy during the semester.

While there is no decision yet on the competition season for winter or spring sports, in anticipation of competitions being approved, the Athletics Department is currently modeling schedules that would have those contests starting in March. Therefore, there isn't a need to have student-athletes return early. The arrival window of 1/19- 1/30 still provides ample time for pre-season preparations. However, we will again reiterate that there is no decision at this time.

We understand that for some, in order to get to campus, you will need to "break quarantine" and that's ok. The goal of the quarantine at home is to have students really limit their exposure prior to their arrival, so that we start out with a low baseline. So we'd ask that you still follow that request before arrival, again understanding that the need to travel is not something that can be avoided. During that travel, we would definitely encourage you to follow all best practices and guidelines around mask wearing, hand sanitizer use, etc. This will also help to reduce the risks associated with that travel.

Yes! Absolutely send care packages to your students. We consider this activity to be similar to walking over to Hodson Hall for Grab & Go meals - as long as they comply with all safety protocols (wear a mask, don't congregate with other students, social distancing if there's a line, etc.) then this is something they can do even during that initial two-week quarantine window.

If a student is later sent to quarantine or isolation housing, the delivery of mail and packages will be coordinated by the COVID Care Coordinators and/or Residential Life teams.

Students may be permitted to visit students in their own residence hall following social distancing protocols and wearing masks. They will not be able to go inside of other residence halls or have other building residents visit them. They will though have opportunities for safe socialization activities outside of their residence halls.

The answerw to those questions are Yes and Yes (yes they'll have time to gather their things, and yes,they can call home). But the bigger answer is that we have been preparing a "what to expect" document that walks you through what the process and sequence of events will be should you test positive or have to quarantine due to exposure to someone who has tested positive. This informational guide will cover everything from what to pack, to meals, to how trash will be handled. You can expect this to be distributed to all students and parents in the next month. This guide will give students a comfort level with knowing what will happen in either of these scenarios.

Yes, a student who is reporting symptoms will be automatically moved into quarantine and tested. Presently, Labcorp and Health Services aren't open for weekend testing. You raise a good point and as Dr. Feyerherm mentioned during the Forum, we do need to address a process for symptomatic students over the weekend. We will be providing further details on that as we formalize the "after-hours/weekend" plan, which will likely include the Quarantine & Isolation staff - this group will be staffed 24/7 - having Health Services staff o-call, and/or even partnership with the local hospital as it relates to weekend testing and more urgent care needs. We owe you some detail, but rest assured we won't leave students to fend for themselves should they fall ill on a Friday night.

While this is still under consideration, at minimum there will be no visits permitted during the first two weeks while students are being asked to self-quarantine. Our official Visitor's Policy states that visitors are restricted to those on official business and whose reason for being on campus is critical to the College's operations. Every contact with someone outside the campus "bubble" presents a risk that we need to avoid, which is why we are approaching it this way. While we will certainly permit a parent/guardian access to campus in the event of an emergency, the best way to keep the campus stable and healthy is for families to assume that they will not have in-person access to their student during the semester.

Yes, that is a topic that the CPG has been discussing and are working towards - both for learning opportunities and ways that students can safely socialize. No specific details available yet, but will be sure to provide updates as we are able to.

Two things on that - one is that Spring Break this year is just a four-day weekend and not the typical week off. The reason for that is largely because we don't want students traveling off campus...but do  understand the need for a mental health break. The second thing is that the policy for spring is that travel off campus (outside of visits to town) is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. We really want students to understand that coming to campus for spring means staying put for the semester.  Travel off campus   may, as you noted, require additional quarantine time.

When possible and consistent with CDC guidance, and in consultation with the family as to what's best for them overall, students who are ill would be able to go home if they can travel there safely. Because CDC guidelines around this continue to evolve and individual state mandates also vary (and continue to change), each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine what the best course of action is. We will add that we are supportive of students who want to go home and can get there safely but will have balance that against state and CDC guidance at the time.

Yes, we recognize the need for this for a variety of reasons and will be accommodating visits from students not living on-campus or in off-campus housing. They will however need to follow standard protocols in coming to campus (symptom attestation, mask wearing, social distancing, etc.). This also applies to students who live close enough and would like access to campus, either occasionally or for regular athletics practices. Students who are coming more regularly will also need to be part of the testing program.

Yes. And if scheduled office hours don’t work for a particular student, faculty members will find other times that are mutually convenient. When in doubt, ask the faculty member directly! Faculty are here to talk to students.

If you are buying a new computer, choose a solution that will support your needs over the next three to four years. We encourage students to purchase an Apple or Lenovo system or any computer that meets the below system configurations.  

The College collaborates with our Apple and Lenovo partners to offer good deals to the Washington College community. You can purchase now through the Apple Store or at our custom Lenovo Store.  

Students must also have access to a strong Internet or wireless connection. For more information about our computer recommendations, please visit the LAT HelpDesk. 

 Students and or parents may be able to borrow additional loan funds to assist with additional educational expenses. 

The Parent PLUS loan allows parents to borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus any other financial aid. Parent can apply on the Federal student Aid website. If parents apply and are denied, students may borrow up to an additional $5,000 in Direct Unsubsidized loan. 

Alternative loans for students are offered through private lenders and are meant to provide additional education funding. Students may choose their own lender based on the terms of the loan. Most students will be required to have a co-signer. 

The Office of Academic Skills, Quantitative Skills Center, and Writing Center  will all remain 100% available in the remote setting. Students may access these resources through WCOnline (https://washcoll.mywconline.com/) and Zoom. Information about appointments and hours, including course mentor sessions, will be made available during the first one or two weeks of the semester, as it has been in the past. Staff in each of the offices are available via email for support in scheduling or accessing these resources or to schedule phone calls or video meetings. 

Access & Disability Services are available to students. Instructions for requesting accommodations for the first time can be found here. Liz Shirk, Disability Access Specialist, is available by appointment to discuss new or existing accommodations that you may need for the remote setting. You can make an appointment with her through Accommodate, or email [email protected]. Existing accommodations will still be in place, but you can meet with someone from the OAS to discuss how they may need to be implemented or altered in the remote setting. Any concerns about accommodations or accessibility can be addressed to [email protected]. 

The Office of Counseling Services can provide an array of services while operating remotely, and can provide comprehensive confidential services to students, using HIPPA compliant audio and video platforms. This includes individual and group counseling sessions, educational outreach, and consultative meetings with staff and faculty. Liaison with psychiatrists and other mental health providers will also continue. Advocacy on behalf of struggling students will take place virtually.  Students wishing to meet with a counselor will make their appointments by emailing [email protected], or calling 410-778-7261.  

Counseling Services will operate on the same schedule: M-F 8:30-12:00, and 1:00-4:30.  And, Counselors will also be available during times of crisis to meet with students outside of regular hours.   The Counseling Center and the COVID-19 Resources page also have a variety of online resources for maintaining physical and mental health on their websites. 

Student health services will continue to be available to all full-time enrolled students for telephone or video appointments, understanding that some situations will require an in-person visit. For students residing at home and needing our services, we will start with a telephone or video visit and if you cannot travel to campus you will be referred to your local primary care provider, urgent care or walk-in center. For our students who are living in Chestertown or nearby, we will provide as many appointments virtually as we can, understanding that some things will require an in-person visit. Although we will have to adjust the way we do things and will not be accepting walk-in appointments, you can still call 410-778-7261 to schedule an appointment with the Health Services team.  (See Health and Wellness page)

The Office of Academic Skills offers a variety of support for time management and academic success. Academic Skills Tutors are available for remote appointments via WCOnline, our online tutor scheduling software that also offers video sessions. A variety of bite-sized academic skills videos, or "Crash Courses" are available on our website or YouTube channel. The OAS Academic Skills tutors also offer some of our traditional Success Seminars live in Zoom. Hilary Bateman, Director of the OAS, is available for individual appointments with students for support with time management and academic success. Those meetings can be scheduled via email to [email protected].   

The Global Education Office announced on Oct. 13 that all in-person study abroad programs for the Spring 2021 semester have been cancelled.  There continue to be entry restrictions on U.S. citizens where most of our programs operate. Additionally, all study abroad destinations continue to be on a Level 3 advisory under the U.S. Department of State’s travel guidelines. 

For those students who have maintained active study abroad applications and who have submitted an application fee, or off-campus study fee, the Business Office will credit a refund to your accounts by November 15, 2020.  

Visits for prospective students will be offered in a small-group setting in accordance with state and local government guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visitor guidelines are available on the registration page and will be sent to you via e-mail prior to your visit. If you have traveled out of the country in the last 30 days, we ask that you do not register for a visit. http://www.washcoll.edu/visit 

Yes, but on a very limited schedule. Please do not have any packages sent to the College until further notice.

The Fitness Center, Waterfront, Casey Swim Center, and the Schottland Tennis Center are open on a limited basis. 

Those students living on campus and around the Chestertown community received an email with an attached pdf of the guidelines.  

Yes, but you must get these courses approved by Washington College before you take them. Email [email protected] for details about obtaining approval. It is also College policy that we accept for transfer credit only courses in which you earned a C- or better. We do not give transfer credit for courses in which you earned grades of D+ or lower. 

After you have completed the courses and you have your final grades, arrange for the college at which you took the courses to send your official transcript to the Registrar’s Office at Washington College. Most colleges can accept requests to send transcripts online. 

If you defer for a semester, there are several ways by which you can still graduate with your cohort. If you defer for a semester, you will need to make up 16 credits.  

You can take summer courses at Washington College or elsewhere. If you successfully complete two four-credit courses at Washington College each summer for two summers, you will earn 16 credits that way. If you take summer courses at another college, you will need to be aware of how many credits that college offers for each course. If those are three-credit courses, you will need to take six of them for which you would earn a total of 18 credits. 

You can also take more than 16 credits in the fall and spring semesters at Washington College. Effective in the Spring 2021 semester, if you take more than 20 credits in a semester, there is an overload fee of $1,500 per credit.  

Or you can combine these two approaches, earning some of the 16 credits in the summer and some of them during a fall or spring semester in which you take 18 or more credits. 

As a current student who has not been approved for college housing, you are not permitted to be on campus. If there is an exceptional reason as to why you would need to be on campus, please complete this form and we can discuss your circumstances. Situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as we are doing our best to limit the number of students on campus. 

Yes, offering online courses is meant to keep students at home or otherwise away from campus. We understand that you may have a current lease for an off-campus apartment or house, but we strongly discourage students leasing new spaces in Chestertown or the surrounding area.   

Need-based financial aid awards are calculated using direct costs and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA. If you live at home or off campus, your award may be adjusted due to a reduction in these costs. Direct costs include costs billed by the college such as tuition and fees, room and meals.

Supervisors of work study positions will decide if work can be completely remotely and whether  we can ensure that students are not working during class hours. Available work study positions are posted on JobX and students are paid biweekly.

No, students will not be able to receive work-study funds if they are not working.

Students are required to be fulltime for all institutional aid received. Students receiving federal loans are required to be halftime (defined as 8 hours) while some Pell Grant recipients could be eligible with as little as one credit hour at a prorated amount. Private loans do not require fulltime enrollment.

Please contact [email protected].  We answer emails in the order in which they are received. 

You may email [email protected] to begin this process. 

All transcripts are ordered online, and you choose whether you want to receive a hard copy or an e-copy. You can order your transcript here: https://www.credentials-inc.com/tplus/?ALUMTRO002108 

You can place your request with the Registrar’s Office by emailing [email protected]. Your enrollment verification letter will verify your enrollment dates at Washington College and your major. 

Please complete the Transfer Credit Request Form: https://www.washcoll.edu/people_departments/offices/registrar/student-forms/transfer-credit-request-form.pdf 

Seek approval of the department chairs regarding the courses you intend to transfer back to WAC and email this form to the Registrar’s Office at [email protected]. Upon being readmitted after one semester, or after you reapply after two semesters away, an official transcript is required for our evaluation. 

Yes, you are still eligible to use your VA benefits and to receive your monthly house payments. Your monthly payments will reflect the amount you would receive as if you were on campus. If you have questions about your benefits, contact the School Certifying Official, Rachelle Marks at [email protected] 

If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student will be responsible for all non-refundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind.  

Tuition refunds or credits are allowed according to the following schedule: 

• Withdrawal before classes begin: 100% refund 
• During the first two weeks of classes: 75% refund 
• During the third week of classes: 50% refund 
• During the fourth week of classes: 25% refund 

After the fourth week of classes there is no tuition refund. Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester. 

Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester. Residence hall spaces are assigned for the academic year; therefore, no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin. Board refunds or credits will be determined on a pro-rated basis. 

Yes, offering online courses is meant to keep students at home. We do understand that you may have a current lease for an off-campus apartment or house, but we strongly discourage students leasing new spaces in Chestertown.   

Students approved to live on campus will be asked to restrict their movement for 14 days following move-in. 

During this 14-day restricted movement period, students should remain in their residences, except when needing to pick up food on campus or attend in-person medical appointments. Students may spend time outside as long as safety guidelines are followed, which include wearing a face covering outdoors if they are unable to maintain a distance of six feet from individuals with whom they do not reside (i.e., who are not members of their household).  

Yes. You can get a parking permit by calling the Department of Public Safety at 410-778-7810.  

 If students have already enrolled in the student health insurance plan offered by the college and will not need it while you remain at home, you can cancel the insurance by emailing health_services@washcoll.edu. You will be able to re-enroll by visiting www.Universityhealthplans.com.

The Health Center will continue to provide medication refills via phone, video, or in-person appointments if necessary. Please email [email protected] for all refill requests. Please allow three business days for refill requests to be completed. 

Yes, students requiring initial appointments for medication evaluation by our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner will require a referral from Counseling Services. Once the referral has been received, you will be scheduled for either an in-person or telehealth visit and notified by email. 

For students who have previously met with our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, please call 410-778-7261 to schedule your follow-up appointment for medication adjustments or refills. 

• Students may remove their masks when they are alone in their room or during activities where a mask cannot practically be worn, such as eating, drinking, or showering; Students should comply with local and state regulations regarding masking when they are off campus. Non-compliance with the masking policy could be considered a violation of the Washington College Honor Code.
• Employees may remove their masks during activities where a mask cannot practically be worn, such as eating, drinking, and when they are alone in their office if it is an enclosed, private workspace. Employees should comply with local and state regulations regarding masking when they are off campus.
• Visitors may remove their masks during activities where a mask cannot practically be worn, such as eating or drinking.
• Student requests for assistance or accommodation for any COVID-related concerns will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There are no exceptions to the campus mask policy, but reasonable accommodations will be approved and provided based on supporting documentation and the individual experiences of the student. Students making these requests should email Health Services or call 410-778-7261.
• Employee requests for assistance or accommodation for any COVID-related concerns will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There are no exceptions to the campus mask policy, but reasonable accommodations will be approved and provided based on supporting documentation and the individual experiences of the employee. Employees making these requests should contact  Human Resources.

Any student who becomes symptomatic will be tested and isolated pending the results of the test. If the test is positive, the student will be required to remain in isolation in the designated residential space and will be provided necessary services from the COVID Care Coordinators. Students in isolation with clinically suspicious symptoms of COVID-19 may require additional confirmatory testing prior to being allowed to move out of isolation housing. 

The Office of Counseling Services can provide an array of services while operating remotely, and can provide comprehensive confidential services to students, using HIPPA-compliant audio and video platforms. This includes individual and group counseling sessions, educational outreach, and consultative meetings with staff and faculty. Liaison with psychiatrists and other mental health providers will also continue. Advocacy on behalf of struggling students will take place virtually.  Students wishing to meet with a counselor will make their appointments by emailing [email protected], or calling 410-778-7261.  

Counseling Services will operate on the same schedule: M-F 8:30-12:00, and 1:00-4:30.  Counselors will also be available during times of crisis to meet with students outside of regular hours. 

Student health services will continue to be available to all full-time enrolled students for telephone or video appointments, understanding that some situations will require an in-person visit. For students residing at home and needing our services, we will start with a telephone or video visit and if you cannot travel to campus you will be referred to your local primary care provider, urgent care or walk-in center. For our students who are living in Chestertown or nearby, we will provide as many appointments virtually as we can, understanding that some things will require an in-person visit. Although we will have to adjust the way we do things and will not be accepting walk-in appointments you can still call 410-778-7261 to schedule an appointment with the Health Services team.

The Office of Academic Skills will continue to offer a variety of support for time management and academic success. Academic Skills Tutors will be available for remote appointments via WCOnline, our online tutor scheduling software that also offers video sessions. A variety of bite-sized academic skills videos, or "Crash Courses" are available on our website or YouTube channel, and more will be added throughout the semester. The OAS Academic Skills tutors will also offer some of our traditional Success Seminars live in Zoom throughout the semester. This schedule will be shared with students (and available on our website) during the first week of the semester. Hilary Bateman, Director of the OAS, is also available for individual appointments with students for support with time management and academic success. Those meetings can be scheduled via email to [email protected].  The Counseling Center and the COVID-19 Resources page also have a variety of online resources. 

Please note that at almost all meetings, activities, and events (formal or informal) are being held virtually.