Due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases within the state and on West Virginia University’s campuses, including Morgantown, Keyser and Beckley, all undergraduate instruction will move online Nov. 23-24.
Residence halls and dining services on the WVU Potomac State College campus will remain open and operating on a normal schedule through Wednesday, Nov. 25, at noon, to allow students to remain on campus and attend classes online should they be waiting for COVID-test results or transportation home.
The Mary F. Shipper Library will be open as follows for virtual support:
Sunday, Nov. 22 – 4 to 8 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23 – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 24 – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Academic Success Center will be open Nov. 23 and 24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for virtual support and appointments.
Additionally, the deadline to withdraw from courses has been extended to Dec. 4. Students considering this option should be aware that withdrawing from courses may negatively affect financial aid, scholarships and progression in their course of study. Students should contact their academic adviser if they have questions about the impact of withdrawing from a course.
“Now more than ever, we ask our students, faculty and staff to stay home and away from those outside of your immediate bubble as much as possible,” Dr. Carmen Burrell, medical director of WVU Medicine Student Health and Urgent Care, said. “If you have to be out or travel, follow the safety guidance that has been put in place to protect you and others, especially our more vulnerable residents.”
- Wear a mask (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated guidance to show that masks help protect the wearer, as well as for the people around those wearing them.)
- Practice physical distancing
- Avoid large gatherings and confined spaces with others
- Wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer if soap is not available
- Stay home if feeling ill (Completing the daily wellness survey may help to monitor for symptoms.)
- Consider getting tested before travel
The University has shared guidance for holiday gatherings and travel.
As part of the WVU Potomac State College’s ongoing surveillance testing efforts and in order to keep its students and their families safe, the College is requiring all students that currently reside on campus to participate in COVID testing on Wednesday Nov. 18 at the J. Edward Kelley Rec Center on campus. This gives students an opportunity to test before returning home for the holiday and completion of the semester.
If students participated in last week’s round of testing, they do not have to participate but can if they choose to do so. If an individual has not been tested yet or tested prior to Nov. 11, the College will still require participation in this upcoming testing opportunity Nov. 18. Please note, if you have already gone home for the semester you are not required to test.
Students failing to comply with these testing requirements, will be subject to disciplinary action through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Consequences may include interim suspension, educational requirements, removal from courses, a campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, University probation, deferred suspension, suspension or expulsion, or fines.
All residence hall students should have received an invitation in their email with a link to register for tomorrow’s COVID testing on campus. If an invitation was not received, please email: PSCstudentexperience@mail.wvu.edu.
Employees can also request an invitation for testing by emailing the address above.
PLEASE READ! Important information to know regarding the upcoming COVID surveillance testing on campus Nov. 18:
- This will be a saliva sample. Please refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, vaping or chewing for at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time. However, you will want to make sure that you are well hydrated throughout the day so that you can provide appropriate saliva sample at time of testing.
- Bring your smartphone with you to register your sample. You will need to have a face covering on and remain physically distanced from others.
- Show up to your appointment at your designated time. 1-2 minutes early is sufficient.
Commuter students and employees wanting to receive a COVID-19 test, can do so through the Mineral County Health Department’s free COVID-19 testing sites. Be sure and identify as a Potomac State College employee or student. Schedules are as follows:
Nov. 19, 2020
9 a.m. to noon -- Mineral County Fairgrounds, Rt. 28, Fort Ashby
2 to 5 p.m. – Mineral County Vo-Tech Center, 981 Harley Staggers Drive, Keyser
Nov. 20, 2020
9 a.m. to noon -- Mineral County Vo-Tech Center, 981 Harley Staggers Drive, Keyser
2 to 5 p.m. – Mineral County Fairgrounds, Rt. 28, Fort Ashby
The WVU COVID-19 testing dashboard is updated Monday through Friday by 2 p.m. with information regarding students and employees broken out by campus (Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser).
Beginning Monday, Nov. 30, and through the first of the year, WVU will update the dashboard on a weekly basis each Monday. The weekly updates will continue to reflect the daily results.
Visit the Return to Campus website for more information.