Warriors Back to College Updates

Update from President Johnson: June 23, 2020

(Sent to returning students and their parents)

We are committed to regularly sharing updates on our students' return to campus to help you better plan over the next couple of months. As a result of valuable input provided by the Warriors Back to College Task Force and many others, the academic and senior leadership teams have finalized several details that are important for you to know about the fall academic calendar, enhancements to academic instruction, and campus life. 

Please take the time to read the Warriors Back to College Strategy and Updates so that you are well-informed and can plan accordingly.  

We know there is much excitement about our return to campus, and with that may come feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Please remember that plans, events, directions, and other information we share continue to be fluid and tentative, yet we hope these updates will provide you with some clarity and relief as we look at life at Wisconsin Lutheran College this fall.

As you read through the document, please know that we recognize each decision has consequences, both seen and unseen. There will be aspects of life back on campus that will look and function differently. Quite frankly, there may be expectations we may not like; however, it is important that each member of our campus community does his or her part so that we can continue to experience campus life in a positive and safe manner. 

We pray that the Lord provides wisdom and strength and that He guides our decisions and planning as we look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus in August. I want to express my gratitude to our faculty and staff as they have worked tirelessly to ensure a well-ordered transition to alternative instruction so that the return to campus can be as smooth and stress-free as possible. I thank you for your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we approach the fall semester.

Please check our social media accounts and this webpage for ongoing information. New and returning students are encouraged to check their WLC email regularly. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to the appropriate faculty/staff member or department. 

DOWNLOAD BACK TO COLLEGE STRATEGY AND UPDATES

Wisconsin Lutheran College received a significant gift to purchase and install state-of-the-art audio/video equipment in many of our classrooms. As a result, we will be able to implement a leading-edge educational model called HyFlex. The hybrid flexible approach (HyFlex) allows for teaching and learning online, in person, or both. This flexibility, as a result of the technology, will serve our students well as we continue to navigate COVID-19 this academic year.

Our faithful professors are doing a great deal of planning for HyFlex while maintaining the high-quality academic programming for which WLC is known. We are confident the HyFlex model of educational instruction will be able to meet the academic needs of our students and faculty for this academic year and possibly beyond. Most importantly, we will be able to enjoy our Christian learning community together on our campus - an aspect of learning we deeply missed during part of this past semester.

Additionally, work is underway to deep clean all classrooms and prepare them to support physical distancing with face-to-face instruction.

Fall 2020 Academic Calendar

The schedule for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 academic year has been modified in a way that we believe will best meet both our academic and safety goals.

Note the change to our calendar at the end of the fall semester. Given that most of our students travel during Thanksgiving break, we believe continuing the short remainder of the semester online is in the best interest of everyone's health, safety, and well-being, a practice many other colleges and universities are following. Knowing this calendar adjustment now will help families plan accordingly. Our HyFlex model of instruction will permit us to safely and effectively bring closure to our semester, as noted.

• Monday, August 31, remains the first day of classes.
• Monday, September 7, Labor Day, will be a day of classes.
• Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 will be days of classes.
• Monday, October 19, will be a one-day Fall Break.
• Wednesday, November 25, will be the last day of face-to-face classes on the WLC campus. Classes will resume online only for one week, Monday, November 30 - Friday, December 4.
• End of semester assessments/exams will also be conducted online from Monday, December 7 - Friday, December 11.
• Please watch for more information regarding December commencement, J Term, and the Spring 2021 semester.

WLC will continue to follow best practice protocols and guidelines as determined by local and state health officials. Our current plan includes the following:

Screening

• Students will be expected to conduct daily self-health checks, which include monitoring their temperature and COVID-19 symptom development.
• Students who develop symptoms must not attend class or work and will need to contact WLC Health Services to report symptoms. Students will receive guidance over the phone as to the next steps regarding testing and quarantine protocol.

Testing

• Testing will be mandatory and available on-site for students who develop symptoms and for those who are determined to be in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19.
• Testing will be coordinated with a partner laboratory and billed to the student's personal health insurance. WLC will provide assistance to students who do not have health insurance. 
  • For this reason, all students will be required to update their personal health insurance information on file at Health Services. Please watch for information about this process.
• If a student chooses to receive a test off-campus, they are expected to communicate with WLC Health Services and provide documentation of that test result/diagnosis.

Tracing

• All WLC students must engage in and cooperate with contact tracing as requested by the state or local health department or WLC Health Services.
• Each student must know their closest contacts (as defined by the CDC) in preparation for potential illness or needed participation in contact tracing.

Tracking

• Students who need to quarantine or isolate will be required to comply with Health Services' COVID-19 communication protocol, which will enable Health Services to monitor symptom development/changes and provide appropriate care.
• The quarantine and/or isolation experience may be challenging both psychologically and emotionally. Health Services, Campus Ministry, Student Support, Sodexo, Residence Life, and other WLC personnel as applicable will help each student remain connected to our community and provide support to best meet their individual needs.
• Health Services will track COVID-19 cases within the WLC population and report to designated leaders any increase in diagnosed cases. Additional testing may be implemented based on the reported data.

Quarantine

Separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a person who has tested positive

• Students who develop COVID-19 related symptoms and are awaiting test results/diagnosis must quarantine.
• Students who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 are highly encouraged to monitor for COVID symptoms.
  • “Close contact” current guidance suggests less than 6 feet apart for 15 or more minutes in an enclosed space; activities involved during the contact will determine risk.
• If a student resides in campus housing, Health Services will collaborate with Residence Life regarding quarantine housing needs. The local health department will provide guidance regarding the student's on-campus residence or the need to temporarily move to another on-campus residence.
  • Students may choose to temporarily move off-campus/to their permanent home address for the duration of their quarantine.
• Quarantine length will be determined by local health department guidelines. Students must strictly adhere to quarantine protocol and comply with all directives from health authorities.

Isolation

Separates those who have tested positive from the rest of the community.

• Students who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate.
• Resident students will be required to isolate off-campus if their permanent/home residence is within three (3) hours from WLC.
  • Health Services and Residence Life will work to provide necessary housing accommodations for those students who are unable to isolate at their permanent residence.
  • The local health department will provide guidance regarding the student's on-campus residence or the need to temporarily move to another on-campus residence.
• Isolation length will be determined by the local health department. Students must strictly adhere to isolation protocol and comply with all directives from health authorities.

Return

• Students will need to meet specific health requirements prior to their return to campus and/or regular activities. Local public health guidelines will determine if criteria has been met.
• Appropriate documentation may need to be provided.

Our culture is one of our most important strengths, and we have every intention of leveraging “Warriors Take Care of Warriors” to help us successfully navigate COVID-19 challenges on campus. Thus, it is the responsibility of every WLC community member (students, faculty, staff, visitors, third-party vendors, parents/guardians, etc.) to engage in infection prevention practices and positive health behavior. The following behaviors will help to maintain your health as well as support the health of the rest of our community.

• Students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear face coverings in all public and common spaces while inside campus buildings. For example, students must wear face coverings (cover nose and mouth) in classrooms, the Warrior Underground, and Treffert Commons, yet face coverings will not be required to be worn when in your residence hall/campus housing or when outdoors. Further details regarding this policy will be shared later this summer.
  
  
• As a WLC Warrior, it is your responsibility not only to monitor your personal health but also to take necessary precautions for the health and safety of others around you. These precautions include, but are not limited to:
  • Monitoring your health daily (taking your temperature, watching for symptoms of illness, etc.)
  • Staying at your residence or going to your residence if you are not feeling well
  • Contacting WLC Health Services for guidance regarding your symptoms when you are not feeling well
  • Frequently and properly washing your hands or using hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable
  • Physical distancing will be a priority. Student gathering spaces for dining, studying, worshipping, etc. are being reviewed, and measures will be put in place to ensure we meet physical distancing guidelines. For example, seating in classrooms will be spatially distanced and dining services will be modified.
  • Engaging in proper cough/sneeze/respiratory etiquette
  • Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your residence
  • Limiting time off-campus to essential needs/trips
  • Creating a personal medical kit which should include disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, multiple cloth masks, and fever reducer/pain reliever medication. You may also choose to include a thermometer.
    
    
• Other
  • WLC is evaluating traffic flow, which may include the designation of doors for entering and exiting buildings.
  • Limiting use of elevators if/when possible.
  • Trinity Home Group, WLC's contracted facilities management company, has expanded sanitization/cleaning efforts.

Residence Life plays a crucial role in the WLC student experience, and providing a safe place for students to live and learn together remains our highest priority. In order to support this goal and the health and well-being of all on campus, we will be taking the following steps:

• Residence Life staff is working diligently to reduce capacity in Stimac and Fischer residence halls to promote physical distancing (de-densify). We are fortunate not to have any community-style bathrooms in our living facilities, a concern many other institutions face.
• We continue to review setups and furniture configurations in our lounge/common areas and throughout all of our residences to support physical distancing - taking into consideration not just the square footage of rooms/areas but how they are used, how often, and by whom.
• We have set aside a number of apartments on campus (in separate buildings than will be used to house students) to support quarantine/isolation procedures.
• Consistent with other areas of the campus, cleaning and sanitation of high-touch surfaces will continue, and students will be encouraged to adopt frequent, thorough cleaning practices within their residences.
• We continue to evaluate guest and visitation policies to best support the health and well-being of all those within our residential community and across campus.

More information about move-in for returning students will be shared by the Office of Residence Life in late July.

We are eager to have students back on campus to experience all that life at WLC has to offer. Our faculty and staff have been focused on planning for a return to campus that is as safe as possible and allows you to enjoy your WLC experience. We want to provide you with a realistic picture of what life on campus will be like this fall.

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is part of our mission and calling as a ministry and will continue at WLC, yet it will be adapted to accommodate new campus safety protocols. The Campus Ministry Office is putting plans together to ensure our students continue to have the opportunity to worship through daily chapel services and devotions and Sunday worship services. They also are addressing how to continue with weekly Bible studies and evaluating new ways for students to grow in their faith.

Campus Events and Activities

The WLC college experience goes beyond quality academics, and we understand that being on campus and participating in activities and events provides additional, invaluable learning and growth opportunities for students. As we transitioned quickly to virtual campus life this past spring, we knew it was important for our students to stay connected with each other and engage in online student events hosted by the college. While we will be together on campus this fall, it is necessary to re-imagine many of our popular events and activities in order to follow community health and safety guidelines. We will be creative in adapting to our new standards. Student Senate, Warrior Events Board (WEB), Student Programming, and club and org leaders are already beginning to plan for fall.

As we begin re-imagining student events, it is important to mention now that several of our beloved WLC traditions will have a new date, time, and format this year, including Afternoon Tea, the Student Variety Show, and WLC Christmas. Health and safety guidelines will be driving our planning decisions, and we look forward to sharing more information about these events soon.

Visual and performing arts are a robust part of WLC's academic curriculum and the college's overall culture, as well as an opportunity for community members to visit WLC for a variety of student and guest artist events. With this in mind, we are carefully evaluating what the fine arts will look like at WLC this fall to ensure the safety of our students and guests. More information will be shared as soon as it is available.

On June 8, 2020, the leadership of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) announced that they expect schools to be able to safely offer athletic competition this fall. Further, the NACC has established a COVID-19 committee that consists of athletics directors, administrators, athletic trainers, and NACC staff to develop robust and clear guidelines for the upcoming fall season. Finally, the conference will continue to seek guidance from the NCAA as well as local, regional, state, and federal health officials and each institution's health professionals. The NACC will adjust as needed to meet the needs of students and institutions.

WLC coaches will be working closely with student-athletes in regard to their health and safety and to ensure the established protocols and precautions for practices and games, etc. are followed. Continue to watch for specific communications from WLC, Warriors Athletics, and/or your respective coach.

Warrior Orientation & Welcome Weekend is August 28-30. WLC is expecting a near record-breaking freshman class and an increased number of transfer students this academic year. We are eager to give our new Warriors a warm reception as we welcome them to campus. New students should regularly check the WOW page and their WLC email for college resources and updates.

Students should follow the guidance of their local and state health departments regarding the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. The general information provided below should not replace current advice from the government, area health departments, or your local healthcare provider.

CDC PRECAUTIONS

The CDC recommends the following health practices to prevent sickness:

Clean your hands often

• Use soap and water, and wash for at least 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at home as much as possible.
• Put distance between yourself and other people.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

• You could spread the virus to others even if you do not feel sick.
• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they go out in public.
• It is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
• Continue to keep about six feet between yourself and others. The face cloth is not a substitute for distancing.

Cover coughs and sneezes

• Use a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

Clean and disinfect

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• Clean surfaces that are dirty, then use a household disinfectant.

Source: CDC Prevention

RESOURCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

World Health Organization

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Milwaukee County

Wauwatosa Health Department

Mental Health Crisis Lines

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please dial 911.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline hotline at 800.273.8255. Click here for Lifeline Crisis Chat.

If you, or someone you know, is having a mental health crisis, call the Christian Family Solutions Crisis Line, available 24/7, at 800.438.1772, option #1.

Christian Family Solutions Resources for WLC Students

• If you have been working with a counselor from Christian Family Solutions, please reach out to him/her directly regarding upcoming appointments and/or the availability of meeting via secure video connection.
  
  
• Counseling support via secure video connection is still available for students. Please reach out to Jackie Kacmarynski (jackie.kacmarynski@wlc.edu), or complete this form.

The federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic related to funding for colleges and college students is called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and within it is the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

Wisconsin Lutheran College applied for the emergency grant and has received limited funds to disburse to eligible students to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.

Please review the CARES Act Application for Additional Funding webpage for additional details.

As recipients of HEERF funds of the CARES Act, Wisconsin Lutheran College is required to post the following information:

Wisconsin Lutheran College signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement on April 13, 2020, and has used no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

As of June 18, 2020, Wisconsin Lutheran College has received and disbursed to students $468,825 from the Department pursuant to the institution's Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Student, which is over one half of the total amount allocated for Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Approximately 850 students at Wisconsin Lutheran College were estimated to be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as evidenced by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)) and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

As of June 18, 2020, 690 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Wisconsin Lutheran College disbursed financial Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, up to $1,500, based on the Total Family Contribution (TFC) calculated by the filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority was given to students with a zero TFC, and phased out with increasing TFC. Additional funds of up to $500 were provided to students remaining on campus without access to a meal plan and for displaced work-study students. $437,525 was awarded to 683 students with this method. The College also has some funds held for students (both those who have received funds and for those who did not) with need who may apply at the following link: CARES Act Application for Additional Funding.

Letter to students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:

May 8, 2020

Dear Student,

We hope this letter finds you well despite this challenging time. You may have heard about the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic related to funding for colleges and college students. It's called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and within it is the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Wisconsin Lutheran College applied for the emergency grant and has received limited funds to disburse to eligible students to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

Through funding by the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Wisconsin Lutheran College is providing this check to you. The funds are to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under your cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). Please note, at this time the taxability of these funds is unknown.

We know everyone has been impacted by this health crisis, and the financial hardship on students and their families may be overwhelming. We are committed to doing everything we can to help you continue your education so you can fulfill your career aspirations and become a strong Christian servant leader

If you do not have added expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, please void the check and return it to:

Wisconsin Lutheran College Business Office
8800 W. Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Please visit www.wlc.edu/coronavirus/ for additional information. If you have questions about this emergency grant, please contact Diane Hoehnke at diane.hoehnke@wlc.edu.

Sincerely,
Diane Hoehnke
Assistant Vice President, Finance

CREDIT/REFUND INFORMATION FOR HOUSING AND MEAL CHARGES

RESIDENT RETURNING STUDENTS

• Students will receive an adjustment based upon a pro-rated calculation for the remaining number of weeks the student did not reside in campus housing. To view your details, please log onto myWLC. Select the MY ACCOUNT tab. Then click GO TO CASHNET to view your E-bill.
• The credit will be applied first to your past-due balances.
• Credit on returning student accounts will be applied to your costs for the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Students who wish to apply a portion of their credit toward their 2020-2021 housing deposit should email their request to Nancy Meyer in the Business Office (nancy.meyer@wlc.edu).

GRADUATING AND NON-RETURNING STUDENTS

• Graduating seniors will be sent a refund check by the end of May.
• Non-returning students should expect to receive a refund check by mid-June.

PARKING PERMIT HOLDERS

• Parking for the partial semester amount will not be refunded, as those costs offset annual parking lot maintenance and other associated ongoing costs.

DONATIONS OF HOUSING AND MEAL-PLAN CREDITS

• You may or may not be aware that generous donors cover nearly one-third of the cost of tuition, room, and board at WLC. Another option you have available is to donate your refund to WLC as a tax-deductible gift. We understand that these are uncertain economic times and are not intending to offend you by asking for consideration of the donation option; however, if the Lord has enabled you to make this gift, we would be most grateful.

If you have questions, please email Nancy Meyer at nancy.meyer@wlc.edu.