Dear Students:
Greetings from Monmouth University! I hope you are well and are enjoying the summer, at least as much as possible during these challenging times.
As I mentioned in my message on July 8, our plan to return to campus in the fall will include a combination of in-person instruction, online courses, and hybrid course delivery. We have been working diligently in recent weeks to adjust our academic schedule to ensure compliance with the health and safety standards set by the State of New Jersey while delivering the best possible academic and campus life experience for our students. We continue to work on the schedule and expect all course assignments to be finalized by this Friday, July 31.
As we approach the finalization of the schedule, we have received many notes, calls, and questions. A few of the more frequently asked questions appear below.
- Course Delivery. Questions have arisen about the number of classes that have shifted from in-person to hybrid and online delivery. While the course schedule will not be finalized until July 31, we do expect more online classes than initially anticipated as a result of the recent national surge of COVID-19 cases. We are actively exploring safe ways to offer additional opportunities for in-person learning, consistent with New Jersey State guidelines. In an effort to reduce confusion, someone from the University will contact you beginning the week of August 3 to help you understand your schedule and assist in answering any questions you may have. Our goal is to offer as much flexibility as possible to help students toward their preferred academic pathway this fall.
- Housing. Questions have emerged about housing deposits and contracts. If you planned to live on campus this fall and for any reason change your mind, we will gladly refund your housing deposit and any payments towards room and board right up until the day before your scheduled move-in. And, if you request, we will guarantee your housing for the spring semester, in the same location and with the same roommate (as long as the roommate agrees).
- Tuition Payments. While the initial tuition payment due date is mid-August, please know that tuition payments for the Fall 2020 semester will be fully refundable through the drop/add period that ends on September 15.
To add further clarity, I will be hosting two open calls next week for incoming and returning students to talk about the path forward and to answer your questions. Incoming students and their families are invited to join me on Wednesday, August 5, at 7 p.m. I will host a separate session for returning students and their families on Thursday, August 6, at 7 p.m.
Registration and log-in details for your call will be sent to you early next week.
I will ask Dr. Rekha Datta, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Robert McCaig, Vice President for Enrollment Management, and Mary Anne Nagy, Vice President for Student Life and Leadership Engagement, to join the call, too.
If you have any additional questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to us at FallRestart@monmouth.edu. My team members and I stand ready to answer your questions as quickly as possible. Again, thank you for your patience as we navigate these challenging times. We look forward to welcoming you back to Monmouth – one way or another – this fall.
Dr. Patrick Leahy
President