Penn State plans to extend online-only classes through summer, reduces summer tuition

Penn State is planning to continue online-only instruction through the summer and will reduce summer tuition “in light of the ongoing pandemic,” although it still left the door open for returning to campus earlier if health experts deem it safe.

The university announced Wednesday that it intends to avoid in-person classes through the Maymester, first summer session and second summer session. But, if the dynamic of the coronavirus changes for the better, it could provide in-person instruction in time for the second summer session that starts July 1.

Tuition has also been adjusted for the summer, pending approval by the board of trustees next month. A typical in-state underclassman at University Park will save about 23%, or $171, per credit. A non-resident will save about 34%, or $501, per credit. (In those specific examples, in-state residents will now pay $576 per credit while those out-of-state will pay $957.)

“As Pennsylvania’s land-grant institution, we recognize the sustained financial hardship the coronavirus pandemic is putting on Pennsylvania families, and families everywhere,” Penn State President Eric J. Barron said in a news release. “Although this decision will impact the revenue stream for the university, it does not in any way change the focus of our academic mission or the quality of our programs, courses and degrees.”

A closer look at the summer tuition structure is below. University Park will be on Tier 3 with Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks and Harrisburg; all other commonwealth campuses will be on Tier 5. (World Campus students will receive 5% off their normal rate.)

The university clarified several other summer-related questions Wednesday, as well. The revised grading system for the spring will revert back to normal for the summer, information on summer camps and other programs is still being finalized and “will be available soon,” and the university is still planning on having on-campus courses in the fall.

The Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP), designed for about 2,000 first-year students at University Park, will be fully virtual this summer with both synchronous online and synchronous remote course offerings. And first-year students at other campuses can start their coursework through “Summer Start,” an option that attempts to replicate in-person learning with small class sizes, online tutoring and peer-mentoring.

“As one of the world’s leading higher education institutions for online education, we know that we have the infrastructure in place to continue bringing our same mission to life and meeting our students’ educational needs in their changing locations and environments,” said Yvonne Gaudelius, associate vice president and senior associate dean of Undergraduate Education.

Penn State moved to online-only classes after spring break March 16 due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Gov. Tom Wolf announced March 19 that all non-life-sustaining businesses would be ordered shut down. And the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention continues to recommend that universities even with minimal risk consider suspending in-person classes.

The university announced March 24 that a positive case of the coronavirus was confirmed on campus. And, as of noon Wednesday, there were 72 confirmed cases in Centre County. Statewide, more than 26,000 have been infected — although single-day increases have been below 10% for the last five days.

Penn State’s Maymester begins May 11, Summer Session I starts May 18, and Summer Session II kicks off July 1.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 9:41 AM.

Josh Moyer

Centre Daily Times

Josh Moyer earned his B.A. in journalism from Penn State and his M.S. from Columbia. He’s been involved in sports and news writing for more than 20 years. He counts the best athlete he’s ever seen as Tecmo Super Bowl’s Bo Jackson.