Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Hope College is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 and assessing the potential impact on the campus community and college operations.

Updated May 14, 2020

#KeepingHope

Stay connected. Post images and videos. Provide encouragement. Offer humor. Share inspiration. Invite feedback. Recognize individuals who are going the extra mile. Help us keep the spirit of Hope alive by using the #KeepingHope hashtag in your social media posts. Check out the hashtag on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and add your own post to help us build community and lift spirits!

Looking to the Fall

As we look toward the fall semester, we are planning to provide an in-person experience for all our students, which includes in-person classes and on-campus living. We’ll prepare to welcome faculty and students to campus, while keeping the health and wellness of our campus community the highest priority. Every fall, Hope comes alive as we gather for another year of educating and serving our students, and unless local health conditions and/or governmental guidelines prevent us from doing so, we will again begin the fall semester together, in person.

Of course, not knowing exactly what the future holds, we must consider and plan for different scenarios. The planning process is underway, and we are focusing specifically on how the college can be agile and innovative, so that now matter what comes our way, we will keep our focus on the students and their ability to flourish inside and outside of classes.

Return to Work

When we are ready to begin on-campus operations again, our return will be a process, not an event. When the “stay at home” restrictions are lifted, we will be prepared to proceed in a phased-in fashion. This means that, when the executive order expires, remote work should continue unless otherwise instructed by your supervisor. We know many of you are eager to get out of the house and return to campus. Thank you for your patience!

Stop-In Request

If you feel that a one-time trip to campus is essential to complete your required work, please use the Employee Stop-In Request Form. The Steering Committee will review your request, and as we approve requests, we will send you an email that serves as the designation you must receive to leave home under the executive order. Please be aware that, with the tightened restrictions, it is possible that your request may not be approved. Please complete this form at least 24 hours in advance.

Additional Information

Pass/Fail Option

A recently approved temporary adaptation of Hope’s Pass/Fail Option Policy will allow all students to request pass-fail (P/F) options for any or all full-semester and last-half semester Spring 2020 courses; there will be no changes to courses that were taken in the first-half of the semester, which ended on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

For many students, taking letter grades off the table reduced pressure and allowed them to focus on their learning. For some, earning reported letter grades was important or even necessary based on specific circumstances, including academic programs that have highly sequenced, grade-dependent prerequisites or were externally accredited programs where external requirements may not allow P/F courses in the major. The hope was that this adaptation provided the balance everyone needed while also alleviating at least some of the anxiety everyone was feeling during this challenging semester.

Registrar Carol De Jong has shared more details about the P/F option so that students and families fully understand the implications of choosing P/F vs. lettered grades. Visit the Spring 2020 Pass/Fail page for more information. The deadline for application for a P/F option is Friday, July 31, 2020, at 5 p.m.

Move-Out Plan

The Residential Life team is working on a case-by-case basis with students who have not been able to move out of their campus residences. If you have any questions, please email reslife@hope.edu.

Refunds on Room, Board and Fees

Students received a credit on their student accounts for the portion of their room and board (meal plan) unused due to Hope’s shift to remote courses during the Spring semester.

Summer Research

The associate provost for academic affairs has released guidelines regarding on-campus, student-faculty collaborative research in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summer Camps and Conferences

In this time of COVID-19 Hope College is closely monitoring the situation and actively working with our camps and conferences.

Commencement

Hope College is planning to welcome back the Class of 2020 for an on-campus, in-person commencement the weekend of August 1–2. We understand that conditions related to the pandemic will continue to evolve, and we will need to monitor the situation carefully to determine next steps. Our plans for commencement will be based on the guidance, recommendations and restrictions issued by the governor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. We will be sharing more details about commencement weekend as they become available; please check the Commencement website regularly for updates.

COVID-19 Resources

Check these resources for up-to-date information:

Stay connected

Thank you for staying connected with us. Please continue sending your questions to campushealth@hope.edu!
— COVID-19 Response Team Steering Committee Members: Jennifer Fellinger, Kristyn Bochniak, Lindsey Engelsman, Jeff Pestun, Dr. Cady Short-Thompson

Hope College Campus Health

The health and wellness of Hope’s campus community is a top priority. The COVID-19 Steering Committee, working closely with the college administrators, will offer guidance based on information from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State. This team will continue to track the situation and coordinate efforts to respond to developments and determine how best to minimize risk on campus.

This situation is continually evolving, and the college is committed to ensuring the health and safety of everyone on campus. (Check the michigan.gov/coronavirus website for the status of COVID-19 cases in Michigan.)

In its aspirations to be faithful, welcoming and transformational, Hope College recognizes that this is a time to support one another with grace and compassion. Many in our campus community have been or will be affected by COVID-19 and may be experiencing real distress at this time. We stand with them, united by a commitment to zero tolerance of discrimination of any kind.