Coronavirus COVID-19

Town Hall Video - Playlist

Town Hall Videos - Individual

• Faculty & Staff Town Hall
  • May 7, Noon
  • May 7, 3 p.m.
• Students, Parents, Alumni, and Community Town Hall
  • May 8, Noon
  • May 8, 3 p.m.

Feedback

We want your feedback on these town hall sessions. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey if you haven’t already done so.

• Town Hall Feedback Survey

Frequently Asked Questions

• Has the campus been thoroughly cleaned since closing?
  • Custodial staff has sanitized campus since its closure in March -- essential personnel have been back on campus since March 31, getting a head start on cleaning.
• Will there be any changes to cleaning procedures once we return to campus? Can offices/staff/faculty request cleaning wipes for their phones, keyboards, etc.?
  • Physical distancing measures will be implemented, and many staff will be able to continue working from home as appropriate. The university is figuring out whether we can even get PPE—still only available to healthcare providers. We will be competing with other schools for equipment.
• What precautions will you be taking for students in the dorms and classrooms?
  • Dorms- all options are being considered. The first task is to allow students to retrieve belongings so dorms can be fully sanitized. There will be additional planning for students who live far away. Information was sent on May 7 informing students when they can return to campus to retrieve their belongings. Students should check their Lindenwood email accounts for these details. Additional hand sanitizer stations will be installed and there will be more frequent cleaning of common areas (elevator buttons, stair rails). There will also be an additional checkpoint at the entrance to each hall and signage to remind students about safety procedures, and we will remove lounge furniture to encourage physical distancing.
  • Classrooms – increased social distancing (possible hybrid delivery model), more cleaning/sanitizing, PPE for labs and hands-on classes where necessary and if possible. We are working with faculty to determine subject-specific needs.
• Are we planning a proactive or reactive response to the projected “second wave” in the fall?
  • Lindenwood is exploring options for a shortened term, asking faculty to prepare for some or all of class to be done online, and frontloading some labs and experiential classes if possible.
• Has an emergency action plan been discussed for if/when COVID-19 re-emerges and we end up with positive cases on campus? Will there be a place to quarantine ill students who might not be able to travel home?
  • There are contingencies for quarantining students and a plan being developed for international students. We have reserved 45 rooms that can be used to quarantine students.
• What is our policy moving forward regarding large crowds (sporting events, performances, Homecoming, etc.)?
  • This is in development. Lindenwood will follow guidelines from public health experts. We are seeking to maintain the student experience and community health and safety.
• Has moving to online instruction shown improved, the same, or lowered performance in the student body as a whole? What will this result prompt you to do in the immediate future?
  • This is difficult to generalize. The pandemic created many abnormal stresses on both students and instructors. We did see some increase in withdrawals and attendance gaps.
  • We will ask faculty to prepare online “back-up” lessons and experiences for fall. Lindenwood has seen increased interest in development for online instruction. We will spend May asking faculty to reflect on what they learned and share successful techniques with one another, and we will provide additional faculty development over the summer and in fall.
• Are instructors being provided resources to improve the quality of online classes? What can students do if they experienced a less-than-quality class experience in the online format?
  • We will spend May asking faculty to reflect on what they learned and share successful techniques with one another.
  • Lindenwood is running three online learning communities for faculty this summer, sending faculty to virtual workshops for new techniques [problem-based learning, math workshop from NSF], and exploring other development options.
  • Students should discuss options with advisors, provide feedback to academic leadership, reflect on what support is needed, and share with the SASS office and academic leadership.
• When will the public be able to safely return to campus to attend activities, use facilities, and/or simply enjoy taking a stroll among the linden trees of our historic campus?
  • We want to open the campus as soon as possible; this will depend on our local and state mandates as well as the reentry task force’s plans. Safety will continue to be our top priority, so before we reopen the campus, we want to make sure we do it with a plan. Our reentry team is working on the plans to open the campus back up for all to enjoy. We miss having the students, faculty, staff, and guests on campus and are excited to welcome everyone back when the time is appropriate and we can do it safely.
• I am in one of the vulnerable groups (those over 60 years old). With the likelihood that the coronavirus will resurface this fall, I would be reluctant to return to a campus classroom and risk being exposed to the virus. Is there any thought of letting faculty give lectures remotely to the classroom?
  • Lindenwood is exploring options to adjust the schedule, especially for instructors who are immunocompromised or otherwise medically at higher risk. All options are on the table, but no decision has been made yet. This will be somewhat different for each school depending on how friendly courses are to adjustment.
• What’s the state of the university – without all the extras?
  • Lindenwood is in a relatively strong financial position. We have a supportive Board of Trustees, no debt, and a strong strategic focus. The university is well-positioned for the future.
• Will seniors have any changes to their programs of study in order to graduate with their major in May 2021?
  • If there are changes, they will be notified about these changes, but everything at the moment is still on track for these students.
• How are scholarships and tuition prices being affected?
  • Lindenwood is not raising prices on tuition, room and board for the coming year.
  • We encourage students with changes to their financial situation, such as loss of income for parents, to contact the Student Financial Services office.
• Are there any precautions students should take while returning to campus?
  • The biggest precaution is to pay attention to communications sent out by the university. Lindenwood will provide guidance on move-in, classes, athletics, etc. by July 1. Keep in touch with advisors and support staff. 

• Beginning on March 16, 2020 Lindenwood began conducting all class meetings virtually using Canvas and other online tools. All spring and summer term courses will be completed in the virtual environment. No classes will be offered on campus in a seated format through August 9, 2020. However, Lindenwood will offer many courses online this summer. Though no on-campus classes will be held this summer, students may continue to complete internships and practicum classes off-campus.
• Students will continue to receive effective instruction, high quality engagement opportunities, and access to assignments. Transitioning from on-ground or hybrid to online classes will be accomplished through the use of several available online-platforms including Canvas, Microsoft Teams and other online resources.   
• Academic faculty and administrators will be available by email, phone, and other virtual means for academic assistance, mentoring and advisement. 

Internships, Practicums & Other Fieldwork

Students should contact their advisor or Dean of their academic program for more information regarding protocols for required certification hours.  Many agencies are implementing revised requirements to accommodate students who are attempting to complete certification hours during this time. Though no on-campus classes will be held this summer, students may continue to complete internships and practicum classes off-campus. Undergraduate students will continue to receive the discounted tuition rate for internship courses (three credit hours of credit for the cost of one).

Students who would like assistance identifying internship opportunities or need assistance registering for an internship class this summer should contact the Center for Experiential Learning, (careerservices@lindenwood.edu), or their academic advisors.

Many students are completing internships, practicums and other field work for academic credit during the spring terms. Lindenwood faculty and career services staff  are working with these students to accommodate the impact of the Coronavirus. The outline below provides guidance for students completing internships/other fieldwork during Spring 2020 terms.

• If the internship site is open or the internship is allowing students to work virtually, students can continue with their internship hours. The internship does not have to be disrupted at this time.
• If the student is uncomfortable continuing in the internship at this time, faculty have been instructed to work with the student on alternate assignments or allow the student to make up internship hours at a later time.
• If the internship site is closed to students, opportunities to make up the hours or an alternative assignment will be given so that there is no negative impact on students.
• If needed at the end of the term, faculty will also work with students on an Incomplete so that they can finish hours at a later time.

Students completing student teaching, practicums, and field work that are required for certification, etc.

• Students should contact their advisor or Dean of their academic program for more information regarding protocols for required certification hours.  Many agencies are implementing revised requirements to accommodate students who are attempting to complete certification hours during this time.

 

Academic Facility Hours

Library and Academic Resources Center (LARC)

March 23 - May 17, 2020

• Library Services staff are available for instruction via Zoom, as well as individual research consultations via chat, email, Zoom, and phone. All electronic library resources and services are accessible via the Library website.
• SASS, the Center for Experiential Learning, and the Writing Center will be available for virtual appointments and consultation.
• Online services from library staff are available during the following hours:
  • Mon.-Thur.: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Fri.: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sat.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sun.: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Lindenwood Main Street, Spellmann Center

March 23 - May 17, 2020

• Available to answer questions via email and phone.  Also available for virtual meetings.  Please contact academicservices@lindenwood.edu or call (636) 949-4954.

Pass/Fail Grades

After extensive review, Lindenwood has made the decision not to move to a pass/fail grading scheme for the spring 2020 terms. Before making this decision, the Office of the Provost put a significant amount of time into researching options as well as collaborating with the deans, Faculty Council and other university stakeholders. Several factors ultimately weighed strongly against the move to P/F grades: 

• Many other universities will not accept pass/fail grades and students who wish to transfer in the future may encounter difficulties transferring their classes taken this term to a different school.
• Many graduate and professional schools require letter grades in certain classes for to their programs.
• The pass/fail grade could potentially impact student-athlete eligibility and financial aid status for students who may be on academic probation. 

• Lindenwood implemented minimum use standards when Canvas was adopted as the university’s learning management system in 2016.  As a result, every Lindenwood course already had a course shell in Canvas, and all faculty and students had at least minimum familiarity with the system before the emergency move to online. This was not the case at many other universities that have adopted the Pass/Fail grading model for the Spring terms. Although the transition to online learning in the middle of the term has not been easy, having these basic course building blocks in place on Canvas meant that Lindenwood faculty had a head start at providing students a quality educational experience in the virtual environment. 

Adjustments and Accommodations

Lindenwood is working closely with the faculty to ensure that they are adjusting their learning outcomes in classes in light of the pandemic and the move to online classes. Faculty are encouraged to work with students during this difficult time to ensure that students have the tools and help that they need to be successful this semester. 

Withdraw Deadline Extension

The withdraw deadlines for spring semester, 8-week (5-term), and spring quarter have been extended. New withdraw dates are as follows:

• Spring Semester: May 1
• Spring Second Half/MBA(5-Term): May 1
• Spring Quarter: June 19

The Summer Trimester withdraw deadline will remain the same (June 26).

Students who wish to withdraw from a course should notify their academic advisor via email before 5 p.m. on the withdraw date.

Incomplete Grades

Students who received an incomplete grade in the Fall 2019 terms will have until December 2020 to complete these classes. Unresolved Incompletes will not be changed to F at the end of the Spring 2020 terms.

Final Examination Policies

Instructors are not expected to hold synchronous final exams as previously scheduled. On a class-by-class basis, faculty may revise their exam or assign final assessments that may be submitted at any time during finals week and make other modifications to final exams or projects in light of the current situation.

If instructors decide to assign an exam as their final assessment, students should be provided a window of time to complete the exam. In such cases, instructors will make every effort to schedule the exam on its previously scheduled day so that students can still have a balanced examination schedule.

May Grade Deadline Extension

Students should be aware that instructors have been given two extra days to submit grades at the end of the Spring Semester and Spring II MBA terms. The grade deadline for Spring Semester and Second-Half Courses has been extended to Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m. Grades for all Spring semester and Spring 5-Term (8 week/MBA) must be submitted by this time. Grades will not post into the student portal until the following day. 

Textbooks

Barnes & Noble is extending the grace period for spring textbook rental returns through the first week of fall classes. Students in summer classes are strongly encouraged to purchase e-book versions of their texts wherever possible to ensure they arrive promptly.

Summer Internships

Students do still have the opportunity to complete summer internships, and the summer internship discount is still available (three credit hours for the price of one).

In light of growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we recognize you are still actively trying to finalize your college search. With that in mind, we have created a list of frequently asked questions, that we are confident will provide you clarity on next steps.

• Admissions COVID-19 FAQs

In light of the NCAA decision to suspend intercollegiate athletic competition for the winter and spring season, Lindenwood University’s NCAA and Student Life Sports teams will not compete during the remainder of the winter and spring season. The NCAA’s announcement on the matter can be found on the organization’s website.

2020 Commencement

For specific questions on degree conferral and commencement that are not answered below, please contact academicservices@lindenwood.edu.

Lindenwood has made the difficult decision to cancel all on-ground commencement ceremonies for May 2020. Currently, state and local ordinances prohibit gatherings of any size, and with no assurance that this prohibition will be lifted by May or early summer, students, parents, and the university are unable to plan and prepare for commencement ceremonies in the near future. Though it will not be the same, we will honor all our graduates virtually this spring. All students who are eligible to graduate this spring, summer, or fall are invited to participate in Lindenwood’s commencement exercises this fall, held at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

Postponement of the commencement ceremony will not impact students’ degree conferral. Students who are on track to graduate following a spring 2020 term will still have their degrees awarded as planned at the end of March, June, or August, as appropriate. Degrees are typically conferred approximately one month after students complete coursework. For example, students who finish classes on May 8 should expect their degrees to be conferred by June 10. Following their degree conferral, students will receive an email from Academic Services to verify their name and shipping address for their diploma. Diplomas should then arrive by mail within eight weeks after the conferral date.

This page contains answers to many of your questions regarding the Fall commencement ceremonies and your graduation regalia.

Graduation Announcements

• Your degree conferral date has not changed, so the graduation announcements you sent your loved ones should still be accurate. Unfortunately, if you have already sent your announcements for a spring ceremony, Herff Jones will not be able to replace your graduation announcements. You can purchase new announcements through Herff Jones if you would like to do so.

Travel for International Families

• If your family is traveling from outside the United States and requires new invitations for their visa applications, please contact academicservices@lindenwood.edu

Honors Cords

• We will provide all eligible graduates with their cords for Latin Honors (e.g., magna cum laude), Veteran Honors, University Honors, and Community Service Honors at the Fall ceremony.
• If you will not be able to attend the Fall ceremony and would like to receive your honor cords, please contact Academic Services at academicservices@lindenwood.edu.
• If you are a student-athlete and unable to participate in the Fall graduation, please contact the following individuals regarding your athletic stole:

• NCAA Student-Athlete: Casey Finnell (cfinnell@lindenwood.edu)
• SLS Student-Athlete: Steve Wolk (swolk@lindenwood.edu)

• If you are a May graduate and have completed the Elevate Leadership Certification program or are a member of the following organizations and are unable to participate in the Fall graduation, please contact Josh Gilliam (jgilliam@lindenwood.edu) regarding receiving your cord/stole:

• Catholic Student Union
• 2019-2020 Lindenwood Student Government Executive or Senator
• Psi Chi 
• Delta Sigma Pi
• Fraternity and Sorority Life

Hooding Ceremony for Doctoral Students

• Students who were planning to participate in the May Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be invited to participate in the Fall Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. The School of Education will release more information when it is available. Questions may be directed to Dr. Bob Steffes (rsteffes@lindenwood.edu).

• 3/11/20 - Switching to Virtual Classes
• 3/16/20 - Virtual Classes Extended
• 3/17/20 - Update on COVID-19 Procedures
• 3/25/20 - Update on Positive Test
• 3/26/20 - Commencement Announcement
• 3/27/20 - A Message from President Porter
• 3/30/20 - Lions’ Relief Fund
• 3/31/20 - President Porter’s Video Message
• 4/7/20 - Summer Courses and Study Abroad
• 4/9/20 - COVID-19 Academic Protocol Updates
• 4/16/20 - CARES Emergency Grant Assistance

June 1-14, 2020 UPDATE

All employees continue to work remotely, except Public Safety and limited Operations staff, unless otherwise notified by their supervisors, to provide continuity in university operations and student support services. Most administrative and academic offices will be available for business by telephone and email during normal business hours.

Employees unable to work as a result of Coronavirus exposure resulting in quarantine, COVID-19-related illness, family care (illness or daycare), or because the employee’s position can only be performed on campus may apply for paid COVID-19 emergency leave through Benefits Director Candace Terry (cterry@lindenwood.edu) between March 23 and June 14. Documentation may be required.

Employees who have received a positive diagnosis for coronavirus and were on campus at any time in the last 14 days should notify Candace Terry (cterry@lindenwood.edu). Employees exhibiting any symptoms should contact their doctor and follow all given instructions and precautions.

If you need administrative assistance, please email the staff member(s) with whom you need to speak to ensure that you receive the help you’re seeking. If you do not know the name of the person you need, please refer to the Q2 contact list for assistance (located in Workday – Useful Links). All of these emails will be answered in a timely manner.

All employees who are unable to report to work on campus or work remotely should speak with their supervisors AND contact Candace Terry at cterry@linenwood.edu to discuss their options.

COVID-19 Emergency Leave

Faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of COVID-19 emergency leave under the following schedule and applicable reasons if unable to report to work on campus or work remotely. Any Covid-19-related leave taken March 23, 2020, or after is counted against the 12-week entitlement. Emergency leave is distinct from – and in addition to – any other type of leave and is specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. This benefit sunsets on 12/31/2020. Nothing in the COVID-19 emergency leave grant is intended to affect existing sick/PTO policies, including their accrual and carryover caps. In the event that federal, state, or local law should require similar paid leave in the future, Lindenwood will apply COVID-19 emergency leave against any such requirements to the extent such laws allow. In the unlikely event of a total shutdown of Lindenwood operations (on ground and online), no emergency leave would be paid during this total shutdown.

Faculty and staff who are UNABLE to work or work remotely because of one of the following reasons are eligible to receive COVID-19 emergency leave OR use accrued SICK OR VACATION leave, if applicable:

1. The employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. The employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
3. The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. The employee is caring for an individual who (a) is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 or (b) has been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19; and/or

Faculty and staff who are UNABLE to work or work remotely because of the following reason are eligible to receive COVID-19 emergency leave or use accrued VACATION leave, if applicable:

• The employee is caring for his or her son or daughter because the school or place of care for the son or daughter has been closed or the child care provider of the son or daughter is unavailable due to COVID-19 precaution.

The COVID-19 benefits include the following for employees with qualifying circumstances as outlined in 1-5 above:

• Qualifying employees will receive full pay for the first two weeks or 80 hours of the leave.
• Qualifying employees are eligible to receive 1/2 pay or short-term disability benefits, if applicable, for the remaining 10 weeks or 400 hours, whichever amount of pay is greater. 
• Qualifying employees enrolled in short-term disability benefits will be required to utilize their short-term disability benefit during the remaining 10 weeks unless the max cap payout of $1,000/week applies.
• Documentation may be required.

Faculty and staff who qualify for this benefit as defined by these categories may apply for COVID-19 emergency leave through Benefits Director Candace Terry (cterry@lindenwood.edu). Documentation may be required.

Due to COVID-19, the posting of student employee positions will be postponed until decisions regarding the reopening of campus have been announced by the administration. Please consult the Student Employee Program for updates throughout the summer.

Lindenwood University has created a Lions’ Relief Fund to assist students who are struggling with challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like most other universities around the country, Lindenwood suspended in-person classes and moved its students off campus to slow the spread of the virus. The sudden change has created challenges for some students.

Designed to ensure the safety and success of our students, the Lions’ Relief Fund will address students’ needs in this ever-changing crisis. Some students may need access to technology to continue their studies virtually. Others may need help with everyday necessities, such as food and hygiene products and access to health services.

Contribute to the Lions’ Relief Fund.

• All internal and external facility rentals are canceled or postponed until further notice.
• The J. Scheidegger Center Touring Series events for the spring season are canceled or postponed. The 2020-21 Touring Season line-up will be announced in July.

All members of the Lindenwood community should consider carefully any upcoming travel plans in the U.S. or abroad, including personal, non-university travel. All members of the community should take reasonable precautions against transmitting illness, including washing hands thoroughly and often, covering coughs and sneezes, and not attending class or work when feeling unwell.

For additional information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization websites.

If you lived on campus this semester, we have calculated your prorated room and board credit and issued refunds to your Lindenwood University student account. All refunds except for Parent Plus loan credits will be processed through BankMobile. For all information regarding BankMobile payments, please refer to bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices . Please review your account preference for the method you prefer to receive your refund. For more information, please contact the Student Refunds Department at studentrefunds@lindenwood.edu, Christina James at (636) 949-4392 or CJames@lindenwood.edu, Tina Wolfe at 636-949-4496 or TWolfe1@lindenwood.edu, or Mubera Komsic at (636) 949-4930 or MKomsic@lindenwood.edu. Please note that it may take five business days for refunds to be processed. If you want to use your entire refund as a pre-payment toward next fall’s room and board charges, we will credit an additional $500 to your fall 2020 account. To be eligible for the $500 fall 2020 room and board credit, please go online and make a payment equal to the amount of this semester’s room and board credit appearing in your student account. The credit is labeled Spring 2020 Adjustment. Your payment must be made by April 17, 2020.

While the University campus is still closed, students who have personal belongings in their on campus residence were notified on May 7, 2020, they may retrieve their belongings between June 1 - 12, 2020. Refer to your email for the protocol and specific instructions on how to make an appointment to retrieve your items.  Please contact Residential Life (reslife@lindenwood.edu) if you are personally unable to retrieve items due to medical or other reasons. The health and safety of our campus community is our priority, thus we expect students and their guests to adhere to all guidelines and safety instructions.

What Happens To My Mail?

Students were advised to pick up all mail and packages prior to departing campus and update their addresses with the U.S. Postal Service. If you have packages on order that have not shipped, please try to contact any service that has not sent out your package and have them re-route as soon as possible to your current address.

Campus Mail Services will forward mail and packages for current resident students within the United States for those students that request this service using the Click-N-Ship option available through the US Postal Service (https://cns.usps.com/). Follow the steps to enter your package details, pay for postage, and print your shipping label. Students will print and forward the mailing label to mailservices@lindenwood.edu. Please contact campus mail services at mailservices@lindenwood.edu for any questions pertaining to this process. Please note that the weight and type of package needs to be accurate to get your package forwarded to you with no additional charge.

Campus Mail Services cannot forward mail/packages outside of the United States.

Student mail and packages that are not requested to be forwarded and/or cannot be forwarded will be stored and held until the campus is open and accessible to the resident student population.

On Campus Facility Hours

Student Counseling and Resource Center (SCRC)

The SCRC will remain open, but all counseling sessions will be virtual. Please contact the SCRC at (636) 949-4522 for an appointment. 

Library and Academic Resources Center (LARC)

March 23 - May 17, 2020

• The Writing Center will be providing online support by appointment; appointments can be made on the Writing Center website.
• SASS, the Center for Experiential Learning, and the Writing Center will be available for virtual appointments and consultation.
• Online services from library staff are available during the following hours:
  • Mon.-Thur.: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Fri.: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sat.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sun.: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Spellmann Center

March 23-May 17, 2020

• Main Street – Available to answer questions via email and phone.  Also available for virtual meetings.  Please contact academicservices@lindenwood.edu or call (636) 949-4954.

Spellmann Dining Hall - Closed

Computer Lab - Closed 

Evans Commons

Evans Dining Hall - Closed

Evans Commons Rec Center - Closed

Student-Athlete Center (SAC) - Closed

 

Communications & Technology

• Charter Spectrum Broadband / Wi-Fi
  • Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
  • Charter will open its Wi-Fi hotspots across our footprint for public use
• Tech Needs
  • https://deals.epcusa.com/
  • If you need a laptop or PC EPC offers low cost options.

Storage

• Many local storage facilities offer storage units in all sizes.
  • https://www.uhaul.com
  • https://www.publicstorage.com
  • https://www.lifestorage.com

In consultation with our study abroad providers, Lindenwood University Study Abroad has cancelled all Spring 2020 short-term and semester programs as well as all Summer 2020 programs. This includes all university-sponsored short-term study abroad trips scheduled for May 2020. Fall 2020 semester programs are still scheduled to proceed as planned.

Lindenwood University continues to closely monitor the evolving situation relative to the Coronavirus.  Study Abroad students who return to the United States from a high-risk area will not be able to return to campus for 14 days. Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, students are required to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and take their temperature twice a day.  

If during the 14-day quarantine period students develops even a mild cough or low-grade fever (37.3 C or 99.1 F), they should continue to remain off-campus and self-isolate. This means avoiding close contact (one meter or nearer) with other people, including family members. 

Students who develop symptoms during the 14-day quarantine period should telephone their family doctor’s office or contact the local health department and provide details of their recent travel and symptoms to determine if further testing or medical care is needed. A student who develops a fever or any symptoms during the 14-day quarantine period will not be permitted to return to campus without a release from certified health care professional.

By policy, Lindenwood University restricts university-sponsored travel to countries deemed high-risk (levels 3 or 4) by the Department of State. University-sponsored travel to any of these locations is restricted for all community members until further notice.

The list of regions/countries who reach a travel alert status due to the Coronavirus may continue to increase and change. The university continues to monitor the situation closely. Please consult the CDC website for the most updated list of restricted countries.

Lindenwood University is prepared and willing to work with students whose education might be interrupted as a result of COVID-19. The university will utilize online technology and make other reasonable academic accommodations to ensure that the academic impact of Coronavirus is as minimal as possible.

We understand the potential inconvenience involved and ask for the continued patience of students, trip leaders, organizers, and parents. Please consult Lindenwood University Study Abroad or contact Elizabeth Snell, assistant director of study abroad (esnell@lindenwood.edu) with questions or for up-to-date information.

Lindenwood University does not condone discrimination against members of our community based on country of origin or perception of where a community member may have traveled. The university will continue to monitor the situation, and, based on recommendations by the CDC and WHO, similar precautions could be put into place for other countries as the virus spreads.

Barnes & Noble has enacted the following policies to help support students impacted by the COVID-19 campus closures.

Free Shipping

Regular ground shipping is currently free for all online orders. This will apply automatically to qualifying orders at checkout.

Free eTextbooks

Utilizing the VitalSource program, students can access free eTextbooks. To qualify, students must be enrolled in courses that began prior to March 16, 2020. Access will be available through May 25, 2020. To get started, students should visit https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/. Before students can begin searching for and reading ebooks, they will need to log-in or create a Bookshelf account with their institution-provided email address. To access ebooks offline, students and instructors should download the Bookshelf app on their computer or mobile device. The Bookshelf app is available free on all major app stores. More information about this program can be found at https://get.vitalsource.com/vitalsource-helps.

Returning Textbooks

Students are not required to return their rentals before the due date. The rental return due date has been extended until the first week of fall semester. International students who are unable to return their books before leaving the country must inform Barnes & Noble at SM8187@bncollege.com to avoid penalties. Free regular ground shipping is available for domestic returns with a pre-paid UPS return label offered by Barnes & Noble. Students must use UPS to return books as no other service is currently delivering to the on-campus store location.

To retrieve your pre-paid UPS label:

• Go to www.lindenwood.bncollege.com
• Click TEXTBOOKS on the left side of the top toolbar
• Select TEXTBOOK RENTALS from the drop down menu
• Scroll down until you see RENTAL RETURN on the right hand side and click on RENTAL RETURN
• A new page will load and you will enter your Order ID (your order number) and your email that was used to place the order
• Click submit to access your free UPS return label
• Print the label
• Pack your book up in a box, seal it, and attach the label you printed to the outside
• Drop off at a UPS pick up location

You can print your return label as many times as you like, but you can only use it once. If you’re returning multiple books, please put them in one box and use one shipping label. The label will be accessible until the due date.

Instances of the COVID-19 are also on the rise in the United States. Students and employees returning from an area of the United States where there has been a reported case of the Coronavirus should monitor themselves for symptoms, including fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Individuals with these symptoms should contact their health provider immediately, avoid campus, and follow instructions to be evaluated. 

• All university-sponsored domestic travel suspended until further notice.
• University-sponsored domestic travel deemed critical to support university business will be approved on a case-by-case basis by a university committee. Travel will be deemed critical and approved if it is necessary for the future operations of the university.  All university-sponsored travel via commercial airline is prohibited until further notice.    
• All international travel to CDC Level 2 and 3 countries is prohibited until April 30, 2020.

• International Office
  internationalServices@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 627-4626
  
• Study Abroad
  esnell@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 949-4308
• Academic Services
  academicservices@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 949-4954
• Provost and Academic Affairs Office
  academicAffairs@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 949-4909
• Public Safety and Security (Staffed 24/7)
  (636) 949-4911
• Terry Russell, Residential Life
  trussell@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 949-4980
• Student Health Center
  lustudenthealth@bjc.org
  (636) 949-4525
• St. Charles Health Department
  pubhealth@sccmo.org
  (636) 949-7400
• Veterans Affairs
  Nia Spencer
  nspencer@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 627-2922
• University Admissions
  Admissions@lindenwood.edu
  (636) 949-4949

Local

• Lindenwood Student Health Center
• St. Charles County - Coronavirus Disease 2019
• St. Charles County - Department of Public Health

National

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Department of State - Travel Advisories
• World Health Organization (WHO)

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is aware and willing to work with students who are receiving veteran benefits.  Below is an overview of guidance issued by the VA pertaining Lindenwood students utilizing VA benefits: 

• If the school remains open (virtually, rather than physically), and students are transitioned to pursuit solely through online classes, then benefit payments (including the Monthly Housing Allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®) will remain unchanged for the remainder of that term.

Lindenwood has moved to virtual classes for all courses in the spring term, including Spring Semester, Spring Quarter, and Spring Trimester.  Under VA guidance provided above, there will be no change in the students benefit payments during this time.  For more information please consult the VA website.