Out of an abundance of caution, Penn State has announced that all classes will be delivered remotely for the rest of the spring 2020 semester, due to the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a student who is learning online through Penn State World Campus, this situation will affect you in different ways than students who typically learn on-campus.
Many faculty and staff members are working remotely at this time, as access is not available to some University buildings. If you need to contact someone, we recommend that you use email and practice patience and understanding through the process.
Penn State World Campus courses are already offered online, minimizing the course-related impacts you will experience. We do not currently anticipate that this situation will impact World Campus course enrollments for summer or fall, but we always encourage you to register for the courses you plan to take as soon as your enrollment window opens.
Beyond your course work, you may be experiencing a variety of personal and professional impacts due to coronavirus. You may be ill yourself or taking care of an ill child or parent, for example. If these impacts do begin to affect your academic success, let your instructor and adviser know.
This situation may also affect your mental health, as everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Here are several mental health resources you might consider reading, curated by Katie Marshall, World Campus mental health case manager:
- Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
- Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus
- 7 Science-Based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety
Penn State is here to provide you with support during this time, if you need it. Many issues can be addressed by communicating directly with your instructor, and you can read more about mental health resources you can use if stress is affecting you. If you have questions about how this situation might affect you in future semesters, speak with your adviser. You can also find out more about the University virus response overall.
We recognize that you do not attend Penn State World Campus in a vacuum. The global spread of coronavirus affects us all personally and professionally and you in your role as a student. We hope to support and encourage you throughout this time.
