Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Response Policies

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Response Policies

as of January 21. 2021

Academic Regulations - Undergraduate

Modified Grading Basis - Fall 2020/Winter Session 2021

The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 only and supersede the usual rule limiting students to only one Pass/Fail course per semester. 

On July 20, 2020, the University of Delaware Faculty Senate passed a resolution to use the modified pass/no credit grading option for the Fall 2020 semester. The modified pass/no credit grading option will continue through the Winter 2021 session. The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 and supersede the usual rule limiting students to only one Pass/Fail course per semester.

• Grading: Professors will assign letter grades as usual.  The last date for posting winter session grades to UDSIS is February 10, 2021. From Thursday, February 11, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021, undergraduate students will have the option to request a change from a letter grade to a modified pass/no credit grading option.  
• Please note that changing grade options may have implications for students. Students who are considering a change to the modified pass/no credit grading option should review the Undergraduate Grade Change FAQ and consult with their assistant dean’s office before making the change. 

Students who receive state or federal grants (e.g., SEED, Pell awards) and students who receive scholarships that require a minimum GPA need to be aware that eligibility for state/federal awards and scholarships that require a minimum GPA will be based on the actual letter grades that students earn. That is, although students who receive state/federal awards and/or scholarships that require a minimum GPA may utilize the modified pass/no credit grading option for their UD transcript, eligibility for state/federal awards and/or scholarships that require a minimum GPA will be determined by the actual letter grade earned for each course. 

Students may choose the modified pass/no credit option for Winter 2021 for electives and courses that are required for their degree. The modified pass/no credit option consists of four grade possibilities - none of which impact the student’s GPA:

• High Pass equals grades from A through B-. The “High Pass” grade will satisfy the minimum grade requirement for all courses taken to meet graduation requirements and will satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses (regardless of the minimum grade required).
• Mid Pass equals grades from C+ through C-. The “Mid Pass” grade will satisfy the minimum grade needed for courses that require a C- or higher for graduation and will satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses that require a minimum grade of C- or better.
• Low Pass equals grades from D+ through D-. The “Low Pass” grade will satisfy the minimum grade needed for courses that require a D- or higher for graduation and will be satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses that have a minimum requirement of D- or better.
• No Credit replaces an F. With a grade of “No Credit,” the student does not earn credit for the course.  

Students may choose the pass/no credit option for one or more courses. The Registrar’s Office will automatically change any letter grade from D+ through F to the appropriate modified pass/no credit option.

Credits - Winter Session 2020/Sumer Session 2021

Undergraduate students taking at least 12 credits in the Fall of 2020 will be eligible to take up to an additional six credits this academic year during the Winter and/or Summer sessions at no additional tuition charge. 

During this time, the University is allowing up to 6 credits to “float” from the fall semester, allowing a student to take courses at no additional cost during the 2020-21 Winter and/or Summer Sessions. This will allow students who feel challenged by the online learning environment the opportunity to take a lighter course load this fall and then catch up on their credits in a later session. The maximum number of course credits spread across the fall semester and the Winter and/or Summer sessions covered by this provision is 18. So, if a student takes 12 credits in fall, they will have 6 credit hours left to use in winter or summer. If they take 13 credits in the fall, they will have 5 credit hours left to use and so on. If students end up with a floating number of credit hours that do not match the class they’d like to take – for instance, they have 3 floating credits and want to take a 4-credit class in winter – they will pay for just 1 credit.

Fall 2020 - Return to Campus

On July 20, 2020, the University of Delaware Faculty Senate passed a resolution to use the modified pass/no credit grading option for the Fall 2020 semester. The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in Fall 2020 and supersede the usual rule limiting students to only one Pass/Fail course per semester.

• Grading: The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in Fall 2020 only. Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is December 22, 2020. Between As student grades areposted, between December 14, 2020 and January 5, 2020, undergraduate students will have the option to request a change from a letter grade to a modified Pass/No Credit grading option.  
• Modified Pass/Fail grading option: Please note that changing grade options may have implications for students. Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should review the Undergraduate Grade Change FAQ and consult with their assistant dean’s office before making the change. 
  • Students may choose the modified pass/no credit option for Fall 2020 for electives and courses that are required for their degree.
  • The modified pass/no credit option consists of four grade possibilities - none of which impact the student’s GPA. 
  • Students may choose the pass/no credit option for one or more courses.
  • The Registrar’s Office will automatically change any letter grade from D+ through F to the appropriate modified pass/no credit option.

• Graduate Education: We encourage students who are planning to apply to a graduate program, medical or other health professions program (e.g., dental, physician’s assistant), veterinary school, law school, and other postbaccalaureate programs to contact their advisor before the end of the semester to discuss the implications of changing from letter grades to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  We have been advised by medical schools that they will not accept Pass/Fail grades for required science courses.
• Probation Process: Students who are in the probation process may switch some course grades to the modified pass/no credit option.  However, students in the probation process need to work on reducing their total number of quality deficit points by earning grades of C+ or better. During the probation process, students must take fewer than 15 credits per semester and must meet with their advisor before registering for the next semester’s courses. Students in the Special Probation process may switch some course grades to modified pass/no credit option. However, students who are in the Special Probation process must reduce their deficit points in order to maintain their academic status. To reduce deficit points, students must earn at least one grade of C+ or better.  Students in the Special Probation process who do not reduce their deficit points will be academically dismissed.
• International Students: International students holding F-1 or J-1 visa status at UD must consult with an Immigration Services Advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) before withdrawing from a class or requesting the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass option.
• Sponsored Students: Students who are sponsored by foreign governments or other entities must check with their sponsor before changing to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit grading to ensure that the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass course grades will be recognized by their sponsor.
• Student Athletes: Student athletes must consult with their Student Services for Athletes advisor before making a change to their grading option.
• Students seeking to meet certification or licensing requirements: Students in pre-professional programs (e.g., teaching, engineering, business) should speak with their advisors to make sure that changing to the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading system will not affect their ability to meet certification or licensing requirements.  Many health professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary) will not accept Pass/No Credit grades for key courses.
• Undergraduate students taking graduate courses: As long as the student is an undergraduate student (i.e., the baccalaureate degree has not been conferred), the student may choose the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading option for graduate-level courses in which they are currently enrolled.
• Students who may transfer to another institution: Students who may in the future transfer to another institution need to be aware that most institutions will only accept transfer credits for courses earning a grade of C or better.
• Students already in Pass/Fail student option: Students who elected to change their grading option to pass/fail prior to the University Faculty Senate voting to use the modified pass/no credit option for Fall 2020 classes will be returned to the standard grading option. This will allow the student to see the course letter grade and decide whether or not to opt into the modified pass/no credit option. Students will have an opportunity to opt in between December 22, 2020 and January 5, 2021, after final grades have been assigned.
• Courses that only have Pass/Fail as a grading option: In courses for which Pass/Fail is the only grading option, if students earn a “Pass” that grade will remain “Pass.”  However, if a student earns a “Fail,” the “Fail” will automatically be converted into “No Credit.”
• “Z” grades: Normally when students stop attending or participating in class without officially withdrawing a grade of Z is posted at the end of the term, computing in the GPA the same as a grade of F does.  For Fall 2020, if a student earns a Z, that grade will convert to No Credit.
• “X” grades: A grade of X indicates class failure due to academic dishonesty.  For Fall 2020, there will be no change; a grade of X will remain an X.
• Withdrawal from Courses:
  • UD Scholarship recipients - Students who receive UD scholarships that require them to successfully complete 12 credits per term need to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits to receive their full scholarship at the time of disbursement.  If the scholarship has not disbursed, and by withdrawing from a course, such students fall below 12 credits, their scholarship will be prorated based on the total number of credits the student is enrolled in.
  • Federal Pell Grant recipients - The amount a student receives for a federal Pell Grant will be determined by the number of credits the student is enrolled for at the time of disbursement.  If a student is enrolled for less than 12 credits at the time of disbursement, the Pell Grant will be prorated based on the total number of credits the student is enrolled in. 
  • Student Athletes - Student athletes must consult with their Student Services for Athletes advisor before withdrawing from a class.

• Calendar: Classes will begin on Tuesday, September 1st with the bulk of our academic courses delivered online. Classes will remain in the original Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday weekly schedule; classes will be held at our regular daily scheduled times. Course schedules for continuing students who have already registered will remain unchanged; most or all courses will be online. Select courses that academic departments have designated as requiring an in-person component will go fully online after the Thanksgiving break, with the last day for any class to meet in-person being Friday, November 20th. All final exams will be online and are scheduled for Saturday, December 12th through Friday, December 18th.
• Class Schedules: Classes will return to the original Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday weekly schedule; classes will be held at our regular daily scheduled times. The majority of classes will be online and conducted either synchronously or asynchronously.
• Registration: The Registrar’s Office expects that fall open enrollment will begin on August 10th. Students will be able to see their schedules in WebReg on August 3rd. Students will be able to make schedule changes using WebReg beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10th. Additional information about registration can be found by visiting: http://www1.udel.edu/registrar/course-info-registration/register-for-classes.html.
  • Returning Students
    • ​July 29: Course information will be viewable in Courses Search and will reflect the fall 2020 instructional modes: online asynchronous (no set meeting time), online synchronous (set meeting time), or in-person. Returning students will be able to view their updated schedules in WebReg.
    • July 30: Provided that Residence Life & Housing is provided the list of returning students registered in F2F classes by July 29th, they will send a letter informing returning students with guaranteed housing contracts of their eligibility to live on campus and the actions they need to take.
    • August 4: Deadline for returning students to confirm housing if eligible for fall, defer housing to the spring, or request release without fees.
    • September 1: First day of classes.
    • September 1: Full bill payment or 1st payment installment due.
  • First Year Students
    • ​July 29: Course information will be viewable in Courses Search and will reflect the fall 2020 instructional modes: online asynchronous (no set meeting time), online synchronous (set meeting time), or in-person.
    • August 3: Students will be able to view their updated schedules in WebReg.
    • August 4: Residence Life and Housing will notify first year students of their eligibility to live on campus and the actions they need to take.
    • August 10: Deadline for first year students to confirm housing if eligible for the fall, defer housing to spring, or request to commute for the year.
    • September 1: First day of classes.
    • September 1: Full bill payment or 1st payment installment due.
• Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT test scores have been made optional criteria for all students applying to attend the University in 2021, either the spring or fall semester. For applicants who do not submit these scores, grade point average, academic records, essays and letters of recommendation will inform evaluation.
• Temporary Change in Online Course Limit: For the Fall 2020 semester, students may take more than 2 UD online courses per semester without submitting a waiver.
• Extension of the Common Exam Window: It is now set to last until 10 p.m. - which will allow for greater social distancing while test tasking.
• Associate in Arts Program: This program will move to all online delivery for the Fall 2020 semester.

Summer Session 2020

The University is moving all summer instruction to online delivery. Course grading will return to the regular University grading policy for the Summer 2020 term. The academic calendar has been updated to reflect an extended drop period. Registration for Summer 2020 sessions will now begin on April 20, 2020.

Spring 2020

• Grading: The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in Spring 2020 only. Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is Monday, June 1, 2020. Between that date and Tuesday, June 9, 2020, undergraduate students will have the option to request a change from a letter grade to a modified Pass/No Credit grading option.  
  • Change in Pass/Fail Limit - The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in spring 2020 only and supersede the usual rule limiting students to only one Pass/Fail course per semester.  Normally, the total number of credits earned on a pass/fail basis may not exceed 24 in the baccalaureate degree program, excluding those courses that are graded pass/fail only.  Any classes taken in spring 2020 under the modified pass/no credit grading option will not count toward this 24 credit maximum.
  • Modified Pass/Fail grading option - Please note that changing grade options may have implications for students. Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should review the Undergraduate Grade Change FAQ and consult with their assistant dean’s office before making the change. Students may choose the modified Pass/No Credit option for spring 2020 for electives and courses that are required for their degree. The modified Pass/No Credit option consists of four grade possibilities - none of which impact the student’s GPA:

• Students already in Pass/Fail student option - Students who elected to change their grading option to pass/fail prior to the university moving Spring 2020 classes online will be returned to the standard grading option. This will allow the student to see the course letter grade and decide whether or not to opt into the modified pass/no credit option. Students will have an opportunity to opt in between June 1, 2020 and June 9, 2020, after final grades have been assigned.
• Courses that only have Pass/Fail as a grading option - In courses for which Pass/Fail is the only grading option, if students earn a “Pass” that grade will remain “Pass.”  However, if a student earns a “Fail,” the “Fail” will automatically be converted into “No Credit.”
• “Z” grades - Normally when students stop attending or participating in class without officially withdrawing a grade of Z is posted at the end of the term, computing in the GPA the same as a grade of F does.  For Spring 2020, if a student earns a Z, that grade will convert to No Credit.
• “X” grades - A grade of X indicates class failure due to academic dishonesty.  For Spring 2020, there will be no change; a grade of X will remain an X.
• Probation Process - Students who are in the probation process may switch to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  If students in the probation process do not reduce their total number of quality deficit points this semester, they will remain in the probation process, and they will not be considered for academic dismissal.  This includes students who are in the Special Probation process.
• International Students - International students holding F-1 or J-1 visa status at UD must consult with an Immigration Services Advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) before withdrawing from a class or requesting the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass option.
• Sponsored Students - Students who are sponsored by foreign governments or other entities must check with their sponsor before changing to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit grading to ensure that the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass course grades will be recognized by their sponsor.
• Student Athletes - Student athletes must consult with their Student Services for Athletes advisor before making a change to their grading option.
• Students seeking to meet certification or licensing requirements - Students in pre-professional programs (e.g., teaching, engineering, business) should speak with their advisors to make sure that changing to the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading system will not affect their ability to meet certification or licensing requirements.  Many health professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary) will not accept Pass/No Credit grades for key courses. The nursing program is seeking advice from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and from the Delaware State Board of Nursing before allowing the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading option for the didactic nursing courses .
• Undergraduate students taking graduate courses - As long as the student is an undergraduate student (i.e., the baccalaureate degree has not been conferred), the student may choose the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading option for graduate-level courses in which they are currently enrolled.
• Graduate Education - We encourage students who are planning to apply to a graduate program, medical or other health professions program (e.g., dental, physician’s assistant), veterinary school, law school, and other postbaccalaureate programs to contact their advisor before the end of the semester to discuss the implications of changing from letter grades to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  We have been advised by medical schools that they will not accept Pass/Fail grades for required science courses.
• Students who may transfer to another institution - Students who may in the future transfer to another institution need to be aware that most institutions will only accept transfer credits for courses earning a grade of C or better.    

Academic Regulations - Graduate

Fall 2020 - Return to Campus

The following changes pertain to graduate students in Fall 2020 and supersede the usual rule that courses must be taken for a grade to count toward a graduate degree.

• Grading: Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is December 22, 2020.  Between that date and January 5, 2021, graduate students will have the option to request a change from a letter grade to a modified pass/no credit grading option. Grading option changes for all classes (A-term, B-term, and full semester classes) will be available at the end of the semester after the final grade deadline for all classes. Note: To allow students to change grading options between December 14, 2020 and January 5, 2021, the University of Delaware will need additional time to process official transcripts for those who need transcripts in the winter.  There will be a one- to two-week delay in posting transcripts to allow for grade changes to be processed.
  • Modified Pass/Fail grading option - If the modified Pass/No Credit option is chosen, the course will not be included in the GPA. Courses will appear on the student’s transcript regardless of the option chosen. Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should consult with their program directors or advisers before making the change.
    • Grades D+ through F will be automatically updated to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option.
    • Please note that the modified Pass/No Credit option will not be available for 868/968 (research), 869 (master’s thesis) or 969 (dissertation) courses.
  • Please note that choosing the Pass/No Credit grade option may have additional consequences for some students.
  • Students must still have an overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation, though courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option will not be included in the GPA calculation.
  • Students on Academic Probation will not be able to use courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option to increase their GPA.
  • Students in accredited programs and in programs involving external licensing/certification regulations may need to have grades for their courses. 

• Calendar: Classes will begin on Tuesday, September 1st with the bulk of our academic courses delivered online. Classes will remain in the original Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday weekly schedule; classes will be held at our regular daily scheduled times. Course schedules for continuing students who have already registered will remain unchanged; most or all courses will be online. Select courses that academic departments have designated as requiring an in-person component will go fully online after the Thanksgiving break, with the last day for any class to meet in-person being Friday, November 20th. All final exams will be online and are scheduled for Saturday, December 12th through Friday, December 18th.
• Class schedules - Classes will return to the original Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday weekly schedule; classes will be held at our regular daily scheduled times. The majority of classes will be online and conducted either synchronously or asynchronously. 
• Temporary Change in Online Course Limit: For the Fall 2020 semester, students may take more than 2 UD online courses per semester without submitting a waiver.
• Extension of the Common Exam Window: It is now set to last until 10 p.m. - which will allow for greater social distancing while test tasking.

Spring 2020

• Grading: The following changes pertain to graduate students in Spring 2020 only and supersede the usual rule that courses must be taken for a grade to count toward a graduate degree.
  • Timeframe - The following changes pertain to graduate students in Spring 2020 only.  Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is Monday, June 1, 2020.  Between that date and Tuesday, June 9, 2020, graduate students will have the option to request that their spring 2020 course grades be changed to the modified Pass/No Credit option.
  • Modified Pass/Fail grading option - Grading option changes for all classes (A-term, B-term, and full semester classes) will be available at the end of the semester after the final grade deadline for all classes. If the modified Pass/No Credit option is chosen, the course will not be included in the GPA. Courses will appear on the student’s transcript regardless of the option chosen.

• Implications - Please note that choosing the Pass/No Credit grade option may have additional consequences for some students. For example, 
  • Students must still have an overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation, though courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option will not be included in the GPA calculation.
  • Students on Academic Probation will not be able to use courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option to increase their GPA.
  • Students in accredited programs and in programs involving external licensing/certification regulations may need to have standard letter grades for their courses. 
  • Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should consult with their program directors or advisors before making the change.

COVID-19 Related Discrimination

• These types of actions are not in line with our community values. Mental health support is available 24 hours a day and if you would like to speak with a clinician, we encourage you to call 302-831-2141 to connect with our Center for Counseling and Student Development. After-hours support is available by calling 302-831-1001 or texting UDTEXT to 741741. If you would like to officially report this incident, please visit udel.edu/oei to file a complaint with the Office of Equity and Inclusion. If this is potentially a criminal matter, UDPD can assist at 302-831-2222.

Student Financials and Fees

Winter Session 2020/Summer Session 2021

Undergraduate students taking at least 12 credits in the Fall of 2020 will be eligible to take up to an additional six credits this academic year during the Winter and/or Summer sessions at no additional tuition charge. 

Fall 2020 - Return to Campus

• Comprehensive Student Fee has been reduced by 15% this year.
• Tuition Freeze: UD is freezing tuition for the upcoming year in an effort to help ease the financial strain on our students and families, while remaining committed to offer the highest quality academic experience.
• Federal Grants/Financial Aid and Minimum GPA: Students who receive federal grants (e.g., Pell awards) and students who receive scholarships that require a minimum GPA need to be aware that eligibility for federal grants and scholarships that require a minimum GPA will be based on the actual letter grades that students earn. That is, although students who receive federal grants and/or scholarships that require a minimum GPA may utilize the modified pass/no credit grading option for their UD transcript, eligibility for Pell grants and/or scholarships that require a minimum GPA will be determined by the actual letter grade earned for each course. 
  • Students who receive federal financial aid need to be aware that eligibility for maintaining their Pell Grant depends on the actual letter grades that they earn and not on the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit equivalent grade. However, students who receive federal financial aid may choose the modified pass/no credit option for the purpose of their UD transcript.
  • Students who receive federal financial aid (e.g., Pell Grants) must be enrolled in at least six credits.  Students may change to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  However, they must earn credit (i.e., receive a passing grade) for at least one course.  Students who do not earn credit for any courses are considered as having unofficially withdrawn from college. If students who receive federal aid do not earn credit for at least one course, the University may be required to return a percentage of the aid received to the federal government. 
• UD Scholarships and Minimum GPA: Students who receive UD scholarships that require them to successfully complete 12 credits per term with a specific minimum GPA need to be aware that eligibility for their scholarship will be based on the actual letter grades earned during this academic year. That is, the actual letter grades earned will be considered in our review of a student’s eligibility for renewal of their scholarship.  Students may change to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit for the purpose of their transcript. 
  • Students who have a cumulative GPA below the required minimum GPA for their scholarship at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester need to bring their cumulative GPA up in order to keep their scholarship for the next academic year (i.e., 2021-2022). 
• Scholarships and Deferral: Merit scholarships are typically honored with a deferral. Need based aid may require resubmission of the FAFSA if the aid year will change as a result of the deferral. 

Summer Session 2020

• Summer Sessions 2020, the University of Delaware will offer nonresident students the Alternate Tuition rate of $628 per credit hour. This rate – which is in keeping with past practice for online classes during the summer and winter terms and is approved by the Board of Trustees – will benefit students both educationally and financially during the global COVID-19 pandemic.  The alternate rate is made possible because of reduced teaching costs during these terms, when faculty are contracted to teach specific courses. This does not occur during fall and spring semesters. Delaware resident students will continue to receive UD’s lowest tuition rate this summer of $530 per credit hour, and they can realize additional savings when taking more than four credit hours in a single summer session.
• Student Wellbeing Fee: With recognition of increased health factors to take into account during this time, the Student Wellbeing Fee will increase by $250 to meet increased demand of various health services, supporting such areas as expanded telehealth services, cultivating mental health counseling, increasing number of clinicians on the ground and new programming at Warner Hall, which is currently being renovated.
• Student Fee: The comprehensive fee for students will increase by $120 in order for the University to be able to partially defray increased operating costs, including enhanced student services, notably advising, and contractual and debt service obligations.
• Housing and Dining Fee: The housing and dining fees will increase by $264 to partially offset increased operating and custodial costs, as well as dining hall renovations.

Student Health

• Identifying those who test positive for COVID-19: In order to protect the privacy of our community members, the University is not able to share the identities of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.  The Delaware Division of Public Health interviews each individual who tests positive for COVID-19 to determine those people with whom they have had close contact.  If you are considered to be at risk because you were in close contact with one of those individuals, the Division of Public Health will contact you.
• Return to Campus: Fall 2020: For students whose health conditions prevent them from attending class in person and/or international students who are unable to be on campus due to travel restrictions or other circumstances, UD will provide access to a high-quality online course delivery.
  • Hands-on learning: Students may choose to be completely online, however, the University cannot guarantee that ALL courses will be available fully online. Some courses have essential learning outcomes that include the development of specific hands-on skills (e.g., learning how to draw blood) and require substantial hands-on components that can only be done in the laboratory or studio. Students who are unable to attend these limited courses in person should consider alternative courses for the fall semester. Students in need of accommodations due to an underlying medical condition or disability should work with the Office of Disability Support Services. 

Study Abroad

• Spring 2021 Study Abroad: Today (9/16/20), the Institute for Global Studies announced the cancellation of all Spring 2021 study abroad and domestic study programs. The probability remains quite low that safe travel and entry into other countries, due to COVID-19, will resume in the coming months. With the health and safety of UD students in mind, IGS has announced this difficult decision now so that students have time to plan for the semesters ahead. Students can explore other opportunities at the Virtual Study Abroad & Global Studies Fair throughout September and find inspiration on the UD Global at Home page at any time. Email go-global@udel.edu with questions.
• Summer 2020, Fall 2020 and Winter 2021: Due to unprecedented measures to restrict travel and limit the spread of COVID-19, UD has canceled its Summer 2020, Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 study abroad programs.
• IGS will continue to carefully monitor official sources when making decisions regarding future education abroad programs. IGS is working closely with our campus and international partners to assess the feasibility of UD Study Abroad programs on a case-by-case basis.If UD decides to cancel a future study abroad program, we will communicate directly with affected students. In this case, the University of Delaware will reimburse the cost of program fees, tuition and flights (if purchase was advised by IGS). Students who have been accepted to upcoming UD study abroad programs should monitor their UD email daily and sign up for emails in the University’s travel alert system, Drum Cussac.
• Students on non-UD sponsored study abroad programs should follow recommendations and use resources provided by their host institution and/or program provider.
• As of March 13, 2020, based upon raised travel advisories from the CDC, UD has canceled its spring study abroad programs in Athens, Australia, Cayman Islands, Copenhagen, Granada, Limerick, Madrid, Rome and Washington, D.C. and advised students to return to their homes immediately. In addition, students have also been advised to return home from their exchange programs in France and Germany.

Transfer Information

• For Spring 2020, undergraduate courses that receive a grade of “Passing,” or “Credit,” or a similar non-standard letter grade may be eligible for transfer to UD. The non-letter grade must be equivalent to a C- (1.7 on a 4.0 scale) or better at the institution. This must be clearly stated in the transcript legend, on the institution’s website, or in a letter that accompanies the student’s paper transcript.

Veterans Information

• All students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and enrolled in on-campus coursework, which are now moved to online, will be paid at the on-campus BAH rate per VA information. For more information, please contact Veteran Student Services.
• GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.