Dear 新澳门六合彩内幕信息students:
As we put the Spring 2020 semester in our rearview mirror, I wanted to thank you for your patience and perseverance. The 鈥済rit鈥� and determination that you demonstrated in the face of adversity during the past seven weeks has been truly inspiring. It is this attitude that has many of you looking forward and wondering, 鈥淲hat comes next?鈥�, so I thought I would share what I know at this time.
Financial Concerns
First, I understand that many in our 新澳门六合彩内幕信息community have been impacted by financial hardship, as an untold number of students and family members have lost their jobs. To offer some relief, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息has identified funds that we can award to our students both through our own United Support fundraising efforts and from the federal government. Currently, funds are still available from the CARES Act to students meeting federally mandated requirements. If you have not investigated this funding source, please visit www.usf.edu/financial-aid/cares-act to review the eligibility requirements and apply. [Note: If you have not completed a previously, please do so before applying.]
Most importantly, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息will soon roll out an unprecedented financial aid stimulus package for students wanting to study full-time this fall, including students who were not eligible for CARES Act funding.
The 新澳门六合彩内幕信息Board of Trustees recently took unprecedented action by approving a summer fee package to ensure that student tuition and fees will not increase. As a result, many of you will see a decrease in the cost of your education over last year. We are one of just two Florida universities that have taken such action to date.
Academic Continuity
Of course, most of you will be continuing your academic journey at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息this summer and in the fall semester. More students have already signed-up for classes than this time last year, so if you haven鈥檛 registered for summer and fall yet, now is a good time! I encourage you to make an appointment with your academic adviser as soon as possible and work with them to stay on track toward timely graduation. Summer sessions A and C begin online on May 18, and session B begins online on June 29.
Like you, I am eager to return to campus this Fall whether it be in Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota-Manatee and, as President Currall made clear in his May 1 letter to our university community 鈥淲e have every intention of resuming face-to-face instruction and some activities during the fall, with modifications and precautions designed to support high-quality academic instruction and student success while maintaining health and safety.鈥�
Our dedicated professors and professional staff are striving to ensure that we continue to deliver a world-class education and university experience, whether online or in-person. Additionally, our undergraduate and graduate students will continue to work alongside our professors in discovering novel solutions to complex problems through research, scholarly, and creative activity. It鈥檚 a part of our commitment at a top tier, preeminent research university.
As we prepare to resume activities on our campuses this fall, the health and safety of our academic communities remain our highest priority. Of course, campus operations can only return once community transmission of COVID-19 has diminished, and the threat to our communities can be safely mitigated. Life on campus will be different with the introduction of practices that will most likely include enhanced cleaning protocols, physical distancing, required face coverings, testing, contact tracing, and quarantine, or self-isolation when necessary. Throughout our planning, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息is incredibly fortunate to be guided by a world-class team of health professionals and scientists who were studying infectious diseases of this kind long before COVID-19 became part of our daily lives.
Wherever you find yourselves this summer and fall, whether in Tampa Bay, somewhere else in Florida, across the nation, or around the world, we are committed to effectively and compassionately ensuring that you can confidently continue your 新澳门六合彩内幕信息journey both inside and outside the classroom. Remember, we鈥檙e on this path together, and I hope to see you back on campus and actively engaged in the life of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息very soon.
In the meantime, please take care of yourselves, let me know how we can help, and I encourage you to keep a watchful eye on the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息website for regular COVID-19 updates.
Best regards,
Ralph C. Wilcox, PhD
Provost & Executive Vice President