In a move designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 on Penn State campuses, the union representing about 2,600 technical service employees, has agreed to follow University requirements for mask-wearing, regardless of vaccination status. The agreement goes into effect immediately.
Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 conditions around the country and in Pennsylvania, effective immediately (Aug. 4), Penn State will require all students, faculty, staff and visitors — including those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated — to wear masks indoors at all campuses. Within the last 24 hours, many counties that are home to Penn State campuses have shifted to “orange” status, warranting an immediate adjustment to the University’s on-campus masking requirement.
Mid Penn Bank along with a group of donors including alumni and friends of Penn State Schuylkill pledged over $27,000 to endow a new fund that will assist students who participate in unpaid internships
Penn State is planning a phased return over the summer semester to a full on-campus learning environment for fall 2021. The University’s priorities continue to be the health and well-being of its students, faculty, staff and local communities, and the plans for expanded in-person classes have the flexibility built in to quickly respond to changing pandemic conditions, if necessary.
During an employee recognition event held virtually on Dec. 18, Penn State Schuylkill honored faculty and staff with years of service awards and announced the 2019-20 winner of the campus’s Outstanding Staff Award. Earlier in the semester, annual faculty awards for advising, teaching, and service were announced.
Penn State has decided to delay the start of in-person classes and transition to a fully remote learning environment for the beginning of the spring 2021 semester at all campus locations. This decision was made following extensive analysis and scenario planning given worsening virus conditions nationally and across the state indicating predictions of rising hospitalization rates in the coming weeks.
The First Federal Charitable Foundation has established two new $100,000 educational equity scholarships at Penn State’s Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses to support regional students whose gender, race, ethnic, cultural, and/or national backgrounds contribute to the diversity of the student body and who have a demonstrated financial need.
Plans for Penn State’s Spring 2021 semester, announced Oct. 4, include a later start in January; continuation of the current flexible instructional modes, including in-person; the elimination of spring break; and completion of instruction for all undergraduate and graduate students by April 30. The University will maintain its observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day on Jan. 18 for students and faculty, when no classes will be held and Dr. King’s legacy will be celebrated through a number of virtual events.
With a gift of $25,000, the Koch family of Koch’s Turkey Farm, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, recently established the Koch Family Educational Equity Scholarship in Memory of Lowell Koch, the first Educational Equity Matching Program gift at Penn State Schuylkill.
