COVID-19 Student Resources

Please check back frequently as these FAQs will be updated and additional questions and answers will be added as planning for COVID-19 continues. The information below is based upon the information presently known about COVID-19.

Last updated: January 12, 2021.

Summary of changes: Added details about the academic calendar and residential options for spring semester. The pass/no pass option is available for fall 2020 as noted below.

After reading the FAQ below, please reach out if you have additional questions to communications@vtc.edu.

Spring 2021

When will the spring semester begin?

Per guidance from the Governor’s office, the semester will start on February 1, 2021. Their guidance also mandates that there “shall not” be a traditional spring break to discourage travel by students and employees beyond Vermont. In light of this, the break will be a one week vacation starting Monday, April 19, 2021. Students will be able to return home and stay home after classes end on Friday, April 16, 2021. The remainder of the semester will be offered remotely starting on Monday, April 26, 2021. Classes will end May 14, 2021 and final exams and remote presentations for capstone projects will begin May 17, 2021. The full announcement is available on the website.

Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I have two doses of the vaccine?

Yes. People who People who get the vaccine should continue taking steps to prevent COVID-19. This is because even if the vaccine protects you from illness, we still don’t have enough information on whether you could still transmit the virus to someone else. Even once we do learn this, there are a number of things we need to know before we can ease up on things like mask-wearing and physical distancing, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities.

Will housing be available for spring?

The residence halls in Randolph Center and Williston are opening to students of every major for the spring semester. Residents will again reside in single rooms. Randolph residential students are required to have a meal plan. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested students must contact Student Affairs by email no later than December 11, 2020. Please include name, campus preference, hometown, class year, and major when emailing Student Affairs.

What are the requirements for housing in the spring?

There are not restrictions by major for who can live in residence for the spring 2021 semester. Everyone living on campus the entire semester will be required to have a COVID-19 test prior to arrival, and again seven days after. Randolph and Williston residents will check in January 29, 2021 to quarantine. The semester begins February 1 and all classes will be offered remotely at the start to enable students to quarantine. There is the expectations that residents will not travel beyond a 10-mile radius without first making travel plans with Student Affairs staff (to review latest county data prior to travel). Guests will not be allowed. Masks are required. Students will again sign a health contract in advance of moving in and starting the semester.

Will there be low-residency housing during weeks we have a lab on campus?

Low-residency housing will be offered again for students traveling to campus for labs. Given the incidence of high-risk counties around and in Vermont, we highly recommend that any students who need to be on campus consider living in the residence hall. Out-of-state students in particular are recommended to live on campus the entire semester. The map that delineates “high-risk” with more than 400 active cases of COVID-19 per one million residents is managed by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and is available on their website.

Will there be Commencement for spring 2021?

Commencement is scheduled for the weekend of May 22 and 23. There is no final decision about how Commencement will be conducted. Much of that will be governed by the COVID virus and state regulations in place at that time.

Fall 2020

Where can I find my lab schedule?

Please log in to the Portal to find your academic schedule and in-person lab requirements, if there are any. Continue to check the Portal up to the first day of lab classes, to be sure you see any changes.

What weeks am I likely to be on campus for labs?

Through input from the faculty, the academic administration has scheduled labs for two sets of weeks throughout the semester; one set is weeks 3, 7, and 11, the second set is weeks 4, 8, and 12. Not all programs will have in-person labs, so always check your academic schedule through the Portal.

Will on-campus housing be available for these weeks?

Yes. Students may live in a residence hall for the weeks they are on campus for labs. Students are not required to live on campus, however, and may commute to campus for in-person labs. It is important to consider the impact of the drive time when opting out of living on campus. The cost of housing per week is $451 (room only). Meal plans are required for Randolph Center residential students while living on campus. Meal plans are $276 a week.

How do I apply for housing for the one-week labs?

Students must email studentaffairs@vtc.edu with their request to live on campus during any of their lab weeks.

What do I need to do in preparation for being on campus for labs?

Please follow the Student Checklist on the Entry Checklist web page.

Why isn’t the cost of one-week housing the standard housing rate divided by 15 weeks?

This expense is lower than the cost for a full semester, but not a direct proportion of the 15-week rate. There is additional administrative oversight and cleaning and room preparation required factoring into the one-week rate.

Will there be meal plans available for the lab weeks?

Yes. Meal plans are required for any Randolph Center residential student, including during one-week residency, for $276 per week. Commuting students may also purchase the meal plan for the weeks they are on campus for labs.

Student Open Forum, 7/17/20:

Will fall classes be held in-person or via remote instruction?

Vermont Tech is using a hybrid delivery model in the fall at all of our campuses and sites, which includes both in-person labs and clinical experiences and remote lectures. This model is a refinement of our June 12, 2020 announcement to resume in-person instruction for the fall by offering only lab and clinical practice in the in-person format.

We continue to monitor the recommendations of the Governor and state and local health officials to adapt our plans as needed.

If my program is not offering lab weeks in-person and doesn’t require me to come on campus, do I need a test?

If a student is learning remotely exclusively, they do not need a test.  But, coming to campus for any reason will require at least one test in advance.

I have permission to live in a residence hall. What do I have to do?

Complete all the items on the Student Re-Entry Checklist in advance of coming to campus.

If I am only coming to campus for lab weeks, when do I have to test?

Yes, all students who come to campus for any reason must have at least one test. Test and results must be completed and submitted to rsivret@vtc.edu the Friday before your lab starts.  If you need to test early, you need to quarantine from the point of testing until coming to campus. Students coming from high-risk counties (per ACCD map) will need to provide negative test results in advance of each week they are on campus for labs.

I just need to pick a book up from the bookstore. Do I need to test?

Yes, if you come to campus for any reason you must test.

Will I still have to pay for tuition or student fees if I’m not physically on campus?

The college is offering education to students in-person and remotely, so there would not be an adjustment for tuition expenses. While students are learning remotely and on campus during lab weeks, fees (facilities, student activity, safety/security) would continue to be used for maintenance and development of infrastructure.  Student Activity fees will be used to provide extracurricular activities and services remotely (including, social events, wellness, fitness and mental health services).

Room and board will be eliminated if you are not living on campus at all.  If you plan to live on campus during the lab weeks you will have a reduced cost for room and board.

Student Orientation, 6/29/20:

With lecture classes offered via remote instruction, should I live near my campus?

Residential requirements for students based on the campus’s distance from home are lifted for the fall semester. Out-of-state students, those with issues accessing the internet from home, and select majors can live on campus for the entirety of the fall semester until the Thanksgiving break, at which time we will move to remote delivery for the remaining academic calendar (two days of the regular semester and five days of final exams). Students may commute to campus or live in a residence hall for their one-week labs throughout the semester.  The in-person labs and clinical experiences require using public health protocols like hand washing, monitoring student and faculty health, requiring face coverings and maintaining social distancing with smaller groups accessing labs at staggered times.

What if I can’t make it back to campus for in-person instruction?

We understand that students may have concerns for their health about returning to a campus and in-person settings. We will work with students on a case-by-case basis to determine how they can continue to make progress on their degrees to the best of their ability in their individual circumstances.

If classes are via remote instruction again, will they be P/NP?

As with the decision made in spring, the Academic Affairs dean has announced that students can choose a P/NP option for their fall grades. Dean Gaillat made this announcement on October 20, 2020. The P/NP option will not be available for the spring 2021 semester.

General

Is the college closed?

No. The college is not closed. There are safety requirements for health screenings in order to be on campus.

Will students be allowed to return to campus?

Students will be permitted on campus for their lab weeks and will undergo screening to allow access. Some exceptions apply that permit additional students to live in residence for the fall semester, including out-of-state students, those with issues accessing the internet from home, and select majors. Those residential students will be subject to additional testing before and after their return to campus. All students and employees will be required to adhere to public health protocols like hand washing, monitoring student and faculty health, requiring face coverings and maintaining social distancing.

Where can I find continuous updates / information?

Turn to the Vermont Tech website for factual data on the college’s plans. Faculty are key sources for updates and facts about your specific courses.

Financial

Can I get a refund?

Room and meals: Student accounts were adjusted to meet the residential and meals use starting July 28th. Requests to remain in housing for the full semester were due on July 27, 2020 by emailing studentaffairs@vtc.edu.

Tuition and fees: Because the college continues to offer education to students both in-person and remotely, there is not an adjustment for tuition expenses. Fees (facilities, student activity, safety/security) continue to be used for maintenance and development of infrastructure.

If I have the VSC Student Health Insurance, what does that policy cover?

You would need to contact the insurance provider directly for detailed information. A link to the insurance provider is also available on our website at the bottom of this page.

Academics

How will students receive the applied learning experience?

By offering labs and clinical experiences in-person throughout the semester, students will continue to benefit from the uniquely Vermont Tech hands-on, applied learning format. Lectures offered remotely will continue to be paired with hands-on, practical application of the learning.

What should I know about the Pass/No Pass grade options?

Please review the Academic Pass/No Pass FAQ for a comprehensive review of this grade option. Any decision to provide a Pass/No Pass option for Fall 2020 will be determined by the Academic Dean and Faculty Assembly at the start of the fall semester.

Support and Technology Services

What student support services are available?

As always, staff from the Center for Academic Success is available by email, telephone, and Zoom. They have developed this plan for providing tutoring services remotely.

• Mental health counseling continues to be available to students. Contact Mary Kathryn Juskiewicz for more information.
• Career Services are still available through Karry Booska.
• Hartness Library offers an online guide for accessing their services and has also put together some resources on staying sane while stuck inside.
• Student Affairs and Athletics are hosting and planning virtual activities you can participate in remotely.

Messages are being sent to your email about these services. Please check for college emails regularly.

Is technical support available?

The Office of Information Technology is spearheading training for employees and students, as well as creating an online repository of resources (requires login) in Canvas Modules. It includes many resources for students, including a Getting Started with Canvas guide, a Getting Started with Zoom guide, a link to 24/7 chat support, a list of public wi-fi hotposts, and more. Sites for services will be communicated out as they are set up. Again, please stay tuned to your email. Technical support is available by submitting a work order to the Help Desk.

Residential Life

What is a “hotel style” residential option?

Students can choose to live on campus for the week of their labs, up to three separate weeks during the fall semester. This means living in a residence hall and packing only enough belongings for one week. Students will also bring linens for use that week. Rooms will be limited to two students in residence at most and singles where space allows. Sodexo will provide meals for Randolph Center residential students and the kitchens will remain open for Williston residential students.

Do I have to live on campus during my one-week lab?

No. Students may commute daily to campus for their lab week. This may cause hardship if commutes are longer than 30 miles, so students should consider the convenience of living on campus for the duration of their lab week to avoid lengthy daily commutes.

What dining services are available?

Sodexo is offering dining in the cafeteria and grab-and-go meals. Students can purchase meal plans for the semester if they live in residence or for the weeks of their labs, as applicable. The café in SHAPE will remain closed. Meal plans are $276 a week.