Student FAQ
Will May Commencement still be held?
Are offices still open at the school?
I don't have internet access, how am I going to complete my online coursework?
How do I register for summer or fall semester if I’m not on campus?
What if I have symptoms? Should I come to class?
Are acceptance decisions to WSCO Health programs still going to be issued?
Who do I contact with questions/concerns?
What if I'm struggling and need to drop a class?
I'm planning to start classes at WSCO this summer or fall. What should I do?
Where can I find contact information for different campus offices?
Will financial aid still be disbursed on time?
What if I need accommodations related to COVID-19?
Are classes being held?
At this time, we are planning to conduct fall courses on campus in addition to our typical online and blended formats.
On March 22, WSCO made the decision to hold all spring semester classes using remote delivery. Students who were scheduled to be on campus for labs starting March 23 did NOT report to campus. Instructors were in touch with students regarding the next steps. The plan to conduct courses via remote delivery was in place through the remainder of spring semester which was extended to May 15. Students who had lab courses that could not be completed remotely received an Incomplete grade at the end of spring semester and completed their laboratory classes on campus starting on June 1. The Incomplete grades will be replaced with a letter grade when the coursework is completed. The grade change deadline for spring semester was July 10.
Will May Commencement still be held?
Our spring commencement ceremony was postponed to Friday, August 7, 2020. Eligible graduates were required to RSVP by July 6 in order to participate. To comply with Health Department regulations for commencement ceremonies, the event is not open to the public. For more information, visit the 2020 Commencement page.
Commencement is our proudest day at the College. In accordance with recommendations from federal, state, and local officials to limit group gatherings to 25 we made the difficult decision to postpone the May Commencement ceremony until August. It is important to note that students who completed their spring coursework and were eligible to graduate at the end of spring semester, were able to do so.
Are offices still open at the school?
The WSCO campus instituted a phased reopening plan in May 2020. As of July 6, 2020, the campus opened for remaining staff members, students enrolled in summer courses, and registered guests. At this time, the college plans to offer fall semester classes on-campus.
July 6: Administrative and support staff return to offices; Monday-Thursday [with remote work continuing on Friday mornings through July 31]
August 3: Faculty Prep Week
August 10: Faculty Return for Fall In-Service
August 17: Fall Semester Begins
In response to the Stay At Home Order issued on March 22 by the Ohio Department of Health, Washington State College of Ohio closed campus, including all offices, classrooms, labs, and buildings effective Sunday, March 22, 2020. This closure continued through the month of May 2020. With this campus closure, office and support services continued with staff working remotely from home.
I don't have internet access, how am I going to complete my online coursework?
WSCO understands that some students have difficulty accessing technology. Although we had planned to maintain hours for the WSCO Library, as well as computer labs, that is no longer going to be possible. To help with Internet access, we are expanding our WSCO Wi-Fi to extend into the lower parking lot (also referred to as the staff/faculty lot). While our buildings are closed, you are welcome to park in the lot and connect to our Wi-Fi.
We are currently working through additional plans to support students who have limited access to a computer or the Internet. If you are a student that anticipates difficulty in accessing technology during this temporary campus closure, we would like to hear from you via this survey.
There are some internet companies that are offering free or reduced internet service. Recently, Charter (Spectrum Internet) announced it 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 and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. In addition, all six libraries in Washington County have increased the range/power of their building Wifi so that anyone near a library will be able to connect. Finally, Suddenlink is offering free internet for 60 days under certain conditions. The Suddenlink number is 888.633.0030.
If I withdraw from a class because of (lack of childcare; I didn't sign up for an online course; I am in self-quarantine, etc.), will it be held against me?
WSCO understands that the COVID-19 situation has impacted students at home as well as at school. Students who are struggling with completing their coursework are strongly encouraged to reach out to our success coaches in the Center for Student Success BEFORE making any decisions to withdraw from their coursework. Withdrawing from a course can have a negative impact on your financial aid and could result in a balance owed to the College. If you do decide to withdraw from a spring semester course, you must work with either the Center for Student Success or your academic advisor to process the withdrawal.
How do I register for summer or fall semester if I’m not on campus?
Students at WSCO have access through Student Planning within MyWSCO to work virtually with their academic advisor to create an academic plan and register for classes. But we realize that you may want to reach out to your advisor via phone or text. WSCO utilizes a two-way texting option called Signal Vine. In the coming weeks, you should be hearing from your advisor using this system. Our advisors are also available to schedule appointments via phone, Google Chat, or Zoom. The summer and fall semester schedule went live on March 30. Registration for summer and fall courses began on April 6.
What if I have symptoms? Should I come to class?
No.
While Washington County does not have a high number of reported COVID cases, we realize that individuals could still be exposed to someone with coronavirus. In conjunction with the Marietta-Belpre City Health Department, we have established the following protocols to deal with possible exposure.
- If exposed to someone who has tested positive, please do NOT report to campus.
- Wait two days and get tested on day three. This helps prevent false-negative test results.
- While waiting on test results, do NOT report to campus.
- If the test is negative, report to campus.
- If the test is positive, do NOT report to campus. Follow instructions from the Health Department. The Health Department will notify HR as part of contact tracing procedures.
- If you are experiencing any symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), please do NOT report to campus.
- Stay home until you are free of fever (without the use of medication) for at least 72 hours (three full days) AND at least seven days have passed since symptoms first began.
- If the test is positive, do NOT report to campus. Follow instructions from the Health Department. The Health Department will notify HR as part of contact tracing procedure.
Please contact your instructors and your academic advisor to let them know about your status. If you are not well enough to complete your coursework, please also notify your instructors.
Are acceptance decisions to WSCO Health programs still going to be issued?
Yes, our selective health programs are in the process of reviewing applications and making acceptance decisions. Acceptance notifications will be delayed a few weeks due to the current COVID-19 situation but students should expect to receive decisions soon.
What do I do if I am applying to a WSCO Health program and have problems either taking the ACT/SAT/TEAS or problems getting my score?
We are continuing to monitor the situation involving testing and test score availability and will provide guidance for students at a later date.
Who do I contact with questions/concerns?
We’re all in this together. WSCO wants to make sure that you can reach out easily, 24/7, with questions as this situation develops. For your convenience, you can contact us at coronavirus@wscc.edu, Facebook (@WSCOMarietta), and our webchat feature on our website.
What if I'm struggling and need to drop a class?
During this challenging time, the Center for Student Success would like to help students make informed decisions about dropping spring courses. If you need to drop a course, please text 740.224.0012 or email css@wscc.edu. The Student Success team will reach out to you and share personalized information related to your financial and academic situation.
I'm planning to start classes at WSCO this summer or fall. What should I do?
Our campus is now open for registered guests as of July 6, 2020. Simply make an appointment before coming to campus. Our faculty and staff are also able to help you via phone and email. You can find an admission checklist here.
If you'd like to wait to visit campus, we completely understand. We encourage you to complete important steps (like having your official high school/GED transcript sent and completing the FAFSA) as soon as possible so that we can help you move through the enrollment process as quickly as possible.
Where can I find contact information for different campus offices?
Contact information for campus resources can be found here. If you're looking for a particular faculty or staff member, please use our directory.
Will financial aid still be disbursed on time?
Yes, WSCO is continuing to process and administer financial aid to students. The second disbursement for spring semester was processed as scheduled on April 2. This means that students who expected refunds should have received those funds by April 15. For more information, click here.
What if I need accommodations related to COVID-19?
When appropriate, WSCO will provide accommodations for students in high-risk categories as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Barbi Cheadle (bcheadle@wscc.edu) in the Center For Student Success (Library Rm 130) for more information.
