York College Gears Up for Fall Semester

​York College will start the fall semester on a heightened alert to equip and inform students about COVID-19 suppression efforts on campus. As the college prepares for the largest enrollment in school history, administrators and faculty are preparing for an array of online, hybrid and in-person instruction.

​The heightened alert requires students to do a daily screening check, wear face coverings, practice social distancing and more. Other guidelines designed to protect the campus and the York community include no off-campus visitors during the fall semester, strict guidelines for move-in day and cancellation of homecoming activities.

Incoming students will be welcomed with traditional move-in assistance and orientation activities. They will also receive YC branded face coverings and find hand sanitizer stations across campus which are decidedly nontraditional. “Our response is designed to mirror the overwhelming sentiment from students that they are ready to be on campus even if it means a hybrid or virtual classroom experience at times,” said Dr. Shane Mountjoy, college provost.
 
Mountjoy added that the college has asked faculty to prepare for hybrid classes and to be prepared to move instruction online as needed. “York College is defined by a highly personal experience in the classroom and we will work to preserve this as much as possible this semester. In light of constantly changing expectations and needs, we have made preparations to move to a virtual instruction format whenever it is necessary.”
 
During this week’s move-in, families bringing their first-time students have been asked to limit their stay to 24 hours at most. Catherine Seufferlein, vice president for student development said, “Some of the adjustments are tough for families and can be hard for students. Our goal is to design all our activities in a way that preserves the college experience and minimizes the risks. We have missed our students and are ready to adapt what we do and how we do it so they can stay on campus until Thanksgiving Break. To reach that goal, may also mean continued adjustments throughout the fall semester.”
 
Enrollment numbers will be finalized in early September, but because of the growth of exclusively online programs the college already projects a record enrollment. Again this fall, York College will welcome students from more than 30 states and several nations.
 
To learn more about the college’s closed campus policy and which facilities are affected go to york.edu/covid19-events.