College of Charleston leaders during a recent virtual town hall meeting with students and their families highlighted the institution’s updated plans for the fall 2020 semester following the delay of in-person classes until Sept. 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I know these past few weeks have been hard, perhaps even more stressful than the first days of the pandemic back in late March and early April. Things seem to improve one day, only to worsen the next,” said College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “Right now it appears that the number of positive cases is dropping modestly each day both in Charleston County and in the state of South Carolina. This decline should give us all hope that our three-week delay of meeting in person for the fall semester will be timed just right. To ensure that timing works, we need to do our part right now – that means please don’t let your guard down.”
Student-leaders, including members of the College’s Student Government Association, launched the Cougar Pledge last week, promoting safety guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus on campus. Key components of the pledge are the promise to properly wearing a face covering on campus, wash your hands frequently and practice social distancing.
“These small sacrifices done individually today will make a big difference for us all collectively tomorrow,” Hsu said.
The College announced on July 28, 2020, that – due to the continued prevalence of COVID-19 in the Charleston area and throughout South Carolina – classes would begin online on Aug. 25, with in-person instruction starting on Sept. 14.
Details discussed during the virtual town hall include:
- Discounts will be given for housing, dining and parking for the three weeks of online instruction, Aug. 25–Sept. 11. No discount is being given for tuition; however, families that find themselves in financial hardship may reach out to the Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs for additional support.
- If a faculty member has notified the College of Charleston Bookstore of required course materials, students should be able to see those by logging into MyCharleston and clicking “Reserve/Order Books.” The bookstore is processing those orders and shipping them free of charge to students. Professors must email their syllabi to their students no later than a week before classes start on Aug. 25.
- A decision about whether to move forward with in-person classes on Sept. 14 or to continue with online classes beyond the Sept. 14 date will be made by Aug. 28.
- City Bistro and Chick-fil-A will open starting Aug. 24 with limited service for students who are in the area. Block meal plans will begin on Aug. 24, as well as Dining Dollars.
- Move-in for students living in on-campus housing will be held Sept. 11–13.
