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COVID-19 and Fall 2020 Updates

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Student Experience

Santa Clara University is busy adapting its rich array of student-life offerings to accommodate necessary safety precautions as we plan for a phased reopening of campus. We are busy planning and conceptualizing community-building activities and various virtual events,finding ways to safely utilize outdoor spaces, and creating opportunities for student engagement. Although we must modify our behavior to ensure everyone’s safety, we will use creative approaches to facilitate  programs and events to further foster connections and relationships. Whether you will be with us in person in the fall, or joining us through virtual offerings, we will offer our same, high-impact experiences that you have come to associate with Santa Clara.

 

Update: In response to changing COVID-19 health and safety conditions and guidance, fall classes will be held primarily online. Plans to bring students back to campus have been suspended. Read the latest campus messages from the President and SCU’s leadership team.

 

On-Campus Housing Update: Fall 2020

Please see the latest On-Campus Housing Update: Fall 2020 campus message and the Fall 2020 Housing and Dining FAQ.

Benson Memorial Center

The Benson Memorial Center will be open, albeit with likely reduced hours, for dining services, student offices access and use, administrative offices access and use, and services such as the ACCESS Card Office. Formal meeting and event spaces will be unavailable or at reduced occupancy. Lounge areas such as Shapell Lounge and the basement lounge will be available but at reduced occupancy. Outdoor seating will be available. Dining areas such as Marketplace, Mission Bakery, and Cellar Market will likely have limited access, seating, and hours.

Campus Ministry

Sunday Masses. Sunday Masses will continue to be offered virtually at 10 a.m. every Sunday via the Campus Ministry YouTube channel, until it is safe, and permitted by state and county rules, to hold Mass in person at the Mission Church. Small Group Faith Sharing. Small groups focused on faith sharing will be offered in fall 2020, either virtually or in person depending on health guidelines in place at the time. See here for information on Christian Life Community small groups, which center on Ignatian Spirituality and are open to people of all or no faiths. Retreats. Campus Ministry typically invites the university community to participate in a variety of retreat experiences throughout the year. Each retreat has a unique focus, ranging from contemplation and discernment to fellowship. As campus resumes operations in fall 2020, some retreats likely will be offered virtually until it is safe and permissible to hold them in-person. Meditations. Campus Ministry is offering popular regular meditations through its @scuspirit Instagram account.

Campus Recreation

Campus Recreation will still be actively updating the virtual stay-at-home webpage for online workout options, sports drills, and other ways to stay physically active. As of this writing, the Malley Center and the Sullivan Aquatic Center remain closed. Information about access to the facilities is regularly updated on the Campus Recreation website. The outdoor track will open. We will be adding new directional signs to create a one-way direction for all users to follow to ensure that they are not crossing paths with multiple users. We hope to open he outdoor functional fitness area when the county allows for playgrounds to open, with guidance on how to clean the equipment after use. Bellomy Field will be open with limited hours for scheduled activities. A decision will be made in late August about activities such as Intramural Sports and Club Sports. Bellomy Field will be used in the fall to host weekly Fitness Classes that will use body weight or your own equipment to complete.

Career Center

Career Center staff recognize that there are many unique challenges during this unprecedented time for students, and they are here to support you. Staff members are constantly updating a robust set of tools and resources to support students in all aspects of internships, career preparation, campus recruitment opportunities, job search tools, and more. Resources being offered include:

Many are currently being offered in virtual format due to social distancing guidelines. Visit the robust Career Center COVID-19 website for the latest information, resources, service offerings, as well as contact information for Career Center staff.

Counseling Services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), will be utilizing a virtual and an in-person model in meeting the mental health needs of the Santa Clara University student body. Outside of a critical need to meet with a student in-person as determined by one of the Center's practitioners, most of the Center's services will be offered through telepsychology and telepsychiatry to registered SCU students. Access to psychological and psychiatric care will only be available to students living in certain states outside of the state of California, yet to be determined by current state laws, permissions, and restrictions.

Drahmann Center Academic Advising

The John B. Drahmann Academic Advising and Learning Resources Center serves as the central location for Core advising, as well as advising for Undeclared students. Every student is also assigned a faculty advisor from their academic department. The staff and faculty University Advisors of the Drahmann Center are committed to the vision of “Success for Every Student.” Every student’s journey is unique, and may benefit from modifications and support from several campus resources. We are proud to be one of those resources and work closely with our colleagues across campus to develop a network of support for SCU students.

Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) will be utilizing a virtual and an in-person model in meeting the medical needs of the Santa Clara University student body. Outside of a critical need to meet with a student in-person as determined by one of the Center's practitioners, most of the Center's services will be offered through telemedicine to registered SCU students. Access to medical care will only be available to students living in certain states outside of the state of California, yet to be determined by current state laws, permissions, and restrictions.

Off Campus Living

The Office of Off Campus Living (OCL) staff remain committed to serving individual students with all of their off campus housing needs. OCL staff will continue to offer 1:1 appointments (via Zoom, telephone, or in person), housing resources, and virtual off-campus housing orientation information, and assist in connecting students with the local community. Additionally, OCL will support off-campus students through virtual programming.

Office of Accessible Education

The goal of the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) remains supporting SCU students with disabilities in participating fully in campus life, its programs, and activities. OAE will continue to offer 1:1 appointments via Zoom, telephone, and face-face (as long as Santa Clara County health guidelines permit). OAE testing center may modify its operation—including limiting the number of seats available— to allow for social distancing amongst testers, to be responsive to new University classes and exams format (face-face or online) as well as to follow Santa Clara County Health guidelines. Current testing hours may also need to be modified.

Office for Multicultural Learning

The Office for Multicultural Learning (OML) remains committed to promoting social justice, building bridges across diverse communities, and celebrating differences of students at Santa Clara University. OML will continue to provide educational opportunities such as the Difficult Dialogue Series, Heritage Month Celebrations, and Diversity & Inclusion training whether virtually or in-person. Professional staff remain available online between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday or in-person by request so long as County health guidelines permit. Inquiries, questions, or concerns can be emailed to us at: oml@scu.edu.

Orientation for First Year and Transfer Students

We can't wait to meet you, our newest Broncos! We are so excited to welcome you into the Santa Clara University family. At SCU, our top priority is the health and safety of our community. For that reason, we are taking the proactive step of minimizing risk from COVID-19 by moving Orientation to a virtual model instead of holding in-person sessions in July and September. During Orientation students will learn about the Core Curriculum, meet with academic advisors, register for fall courses, engage with the Residential Learning Communities (RLCs), gain insights into campus services and resources, and start conversations about our Jesuit and community values.

Student Activities/Involvement/Engagement

The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) will be available to guide and accompany any students finding ways to get involved at SCU as well as to support and advise student organizations. Staff are likely to provide a hybrid model of in-person and virtual services and programs including advising of individual students and student organizations, financial transactions for student organizations, and leadership training programs. As of this writing, CSI staff will develop a staggered schedule so that at least one -- if not two -- staff are in the office at any given time.

Student Welfare

The Office of Student Life (OSL) staff remain committed to responding to individual student welfare needs. Our Culture of CARE and referral procedures continue for any member of the community (students, faculty, staff, and parents) to access and inform OSL of students who are struggling and would benefit from outreach and being connected to campus resources. Within one business day of receiving a Student of Concern Report, an OSL staff member will follow up with the reporting party and contact the student to invite the student to a meeting (via Zoom, telephone, or in person).

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center will remain committed to supporting our student groups: Peer Health Educators (PHEs), Violence Prevention Educators (VPEs), and the Burnout Broncos, SCU’s Collegiate Recovery Program. All student groups will have weekly meetings (open to all students) to discuss addressing student health and wellness needs within the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. We will continue to prioritize mental health/wellness, substance misuse/abuse, and sexual violence prevention while also addressing community health concerns as it pertains to COVID-19. Lastly, we will offer the PHSC 196 course online, which is a prerequisite for those interested in becoming a PHE.