All classes at Eastern will transition to an online format for the remainder of the Fall semester following Thanksgiving Break.

The decision was made to attempt to slow the rising levels of COVID-19 transmission throughout Illinois.

This is only a call for the Fall semester and it has not been announced that classes will be in only an online format for the Spring semester.

Though classes will be online, university housing, dining centers, Booth Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union and all student support offices will remain open and continue to follow Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Illinois Department of Public Health and Eastern COVID-19 guidelines.

Student will be given the option to stay on campus following the break or stay home, however, because the campus will remain open no refunds will be given for tuition, fees or dining.

Those who have on-campus employment will still have the opportunity to work in their positions.

Students who choose to return to campus for the remainder of the semester should inform the Housing and Dining office via a link sent in an email from University President David Glassman.

Those who choose to not return to campus must mail their textbooks back to campus by Dec. 18 to not receive a late fee.

All students who are leaving campus for break should take home anything they need to complete the semester remotely like personal computers, laptops, books, necessary notes, personal items or important medication.

Students are asked to strictly adhere to the CDC and the IDPH recommendations for limiting travel and social gatherings while home.

Credit / No Credit Grade Option Available

Eastern will once again offer a credit / no credit grade option for students as they offered last year.

Student will have the option to changes courses with a letter grade of “A,” “B” or “C” to credit. Letter grades of “D” or “F” will count as no credit.

According to an email sent by Provost Jay Gatrell the reason for allowing the option is because “the University recognizes that in some cases students may need additional course grade options for the Fall 2020 semester. Indeed, the COVID-19 crisis itself has not only prompted academic challenges, but also has changed everyday life for students and faculty alike. To respond to these significant disruptions and the transition from face-to-face to remote learning, undergraduate students may petition the Registrar to change grade type in self-selected courses.”

The deadline to request the change is Dec. 8.

Students should seek advising from their academic advisor for guidance on how they should proceed in regard to changing their grade type.

There is no limit on how many courses can be changed to a credit / no credit this semester.

The options are exceptions to the Undergraduate Catalog can be applied to meet degree, major and general education requirements.

Spring Break cancelled

The traditional set up for Spring Break has also been cancelled.

The break, which was originally a 5-day long break in classes will now be broken up throughout the semester as a single day off approximately every three weeks.

The university is calling the new set-up “personal wellness days.” The dates have not been selected yet for when days will occur.

No required academic activity will occur on the selected days.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].