The Cheyney University Administration acted swiftly to respond to the COVID-19 virus by ensuring a safe and healthy campus environment and successfully transitioning to online learning to accommodate all student needs.
Online Learning:
Since March 23, Cheyney University faculty provided online delivery of course for the Spring 2020 semester. This was aligned with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s guidelines of having no in-person classes. Prior to the transition to online learning, the university prepared students and faculty for remote learning through D2L software and zoom. Students received email instructions on expectations and requirements and staff had time to adjust to the online platform. It was a smooth, successful transition for faculty and staff.
COVID-19 Response for Students
After spring break, students who had no symptoms of the coronavirus had the option to continue to reside in their dormitory or move out and return home for the remainder of the semester. Accommodations were made for students who remained on campus for various reasons (i.e., international students, students who do not have reliable internet connectivity at home, or those without stable living conditions). For these students, there was an established modified on-campus services, such as health and dining. We also provided all students—whether residing on or off-campus—with additional instructions for online academic counseling and other support services. Students who decided to return home for the remainder of the semester received prorated refunds for selected fees. This policy was in alignment with the guidance PASSHE recently provided to all State System universities.
Spring 2020 Graduation
With health and safety established as our top priorities, the administration asked our graduating seniors to share their vision for commencement. Results of our survey showed an overwhelming majority of graduating seniors – nearly 90 percent – supported postponing the previously scheduled May 9 ceremony to a date later in the year.
President Aaron Walton also had the great opportunity to recognize recent graduates at the National HBCU Virtual Ceremony this past weekend, joining with almost 80 participating HBCUs. Whether overcoming obstacles or celebrating triumphs, the Cheyney community has shown a commitment to one another. The delayed commencement in no way affects the conferral of degrees. Students who applied to graduate and successfully completed final course requirements will have their diplomas sent by mail after the Registrar’s Office finalizes the grades.
CARES Act
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Cheyney University’s administration had several meetings to discuss and select a methodology for distributing the emergency student grants portion of the CARES Act. We also had discussions with our counterparts at other universities. The selected distribution methodology ensured adherence to the federal guidelines, while taking into consideration the needs of our students. A student survey was conducted to understand how they were impacted by the disruption caused by the coronavirus. Students were given the option to receive their payment by check, direct deposit, or a prepaid debit card. Our objective is to get the funds into our students’ hands as expeditiously as possible. About 440 students completed the survey and chose to participate in the grant, and are Title IV eligible. A total of $331,808 from the federal stimulus will be distributed to these students.
COVID-19 Impact
As with all of the state’s public universities, Cheyney University has had to make financial and budgetary decisions to adjust to the current academic environment caused by the pandemic. However, through our resurgence efforts, we have made many changes over the last two and a half years that have better positioned us to respond to the current crisis. Our freshman retention rate of 70% has been the highest it’s been in the last two decades. Incoming freshman applications continue to increase with deposits up 50 percent already for the fall semester of 2020. Cheyney is of only two of the 14 schools in state system projecting an increase in enrollment each of the next five years.
Our monetization efforts continue to thrive. Four biotech companies located to the new Science building, providing paid internships for students and doing research in cutting edge such as cancer research, analytical sciences, and pharmaceutical research. We have three more companies scheduled to move to campus:
- Advanced Alchemy—Hemp Processing for medicinal purposes
- 3D printing company
- solar panel manufacturing company projecting 100 permanent jobs
The new Corporate Partnerships include:
- Epcot Crenshaw Corp., a West Chester-based company that develops technologies to solve environmental problems, is developing a new headquarters on campus including research labs, greenhouses, and a new aquaponics facility.
- Navrogen will bring its bio-pharma research and development (R&D) operation to Cheyney’s Science Center.
- ASI Chemicals a start-up company that manufactures chemicals for pharmaceutical products is launching operations on the Cheyney campus through a facilities use agreement, which enables these companies to use the space in exchange for providing learning opportunities for Cheyney students.
Fall 2020 Semester
Members of our Executive Team have been actively meeting and interacting with our colleagues throughout PASSHE, to discuss how it could impact our Cheyney community—our students, staff, faculty, on-campus partners, and vendors. During the meetings we discussed various scenarios and have developed contingency plans to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spreading on campus should that happen in the fall. It is important to note there are no known coronavirus cases at Cheyney at this time.