Return-to-Better

Return to Better

We are committed to a return to classes on campus and in-person when the 2021-‘22 academic year gets underway.

Our students expect to engage with our outstanding faculty and with one another – both in and out of the classroom – and they expect to do that in-person, in one of the best college towns in America – Madison.  That's why we are committed to teaching and learning in classrooms, and in-person, this fall.

Our Return to Better Task Force is taking steps to make that happen - not to return to ‘normal,’ but to return to better, applying all the lessons we have learned and continue to learn through the experience of the pandemic.

Update

July 1, 2021

As a community we have followed the guidance of our public health professionals since the beginning of this pandemic. The CDC and the Wis. Department of Health Services recommends that all who are eligible be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Therefore, we too are strongly urging each member of our community to be vaccinated.

Students – we have created a simple form for you to update your COVID-19 vaccination status, and have sent you the link via email. You will indicate whether you have been vaccinated, whether you plan to but have not yet, or whether you do not plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Please complete this simple form now, and no later than Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

There will be continued updates for students as we approach our fall semester, including some very attractive reasons for completing the form. (Did someone say ‘big scholarships?’ And ‘free parking spaces?’) Please remember to check your email often throughout the summer.

If you have any questions, please email deanofstudents@edgewood.edu. If you need assistance finding a vaccination appointment, reach out, we are here to help! 

Enjoy your summer!

-Dr. Heather Harbach
V.P. for Student Development/Sean of Students

 

Active cases
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Recovered
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Total
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Last updated 5/14/2021

Total: Total number of cases (Active and Recovered) among Students, Faculty, and Staff, both on and off campus, since tracking began in summer 2020.
Active: Positive cases not yet recovered.
Recovered: Able to resume normal activities. 

(May 15, 2021 - On the final day of the Spring semester, our final active case was moved to 'recovered.' The College has suspended tracking of COVID-19 cases among Students, Faculty, and Staff, both on and off campus, effective with the close of the Spring semester. Be well!)

Spring 2021 Pass/Fail Option for Students

How will this process work?
You should continue to work hard in all of your classes, and do not make any decision to take a course Pass/Fail until you know the letter grade you earned in the class. 

Professors will submit the letter grade you earned for the course at the end of the semester as normal.

Once grades are submitted, students will have from 12:01AM on May 20 until 11:59PM on May 25 to request that their letter grade be converted to Pass/Fail.

When the Pass/Fail option opens, you will receive an email with a link.  This link will also be in Edgewood Express, on the very top of the Courses and Registration page.

The Registrar’s Office will receive the request and convert your letter grade to a Pass/Fail grade according to the following scale:
Letter grade of A, AB, B, BC, C will be converted to a High Pass (HP) grade
Letter grade of CD or D will be converted to a Low Pass (LP) grade
Letter grade of F will be converted to a Fail (F*) grade
(The ‘*’ denotes a failure in a P/F course as opposed to a letter grade course).

Do I have to move a course to a Pass/Fail grading method?
No.  You have the option to move one of your classes to P/F.  The default grading method will be the normal letter grade.

Is my decision to choose a Pass/Fail grade for a particular course reversible? No. Once you select the option of Pass/Fail grade for a particular course, that decision is not reversible.

When can I choose to opt out of the letter grade and select a Pass/Fail grading option?
 You have from 12:01 AM on May 20 until 11:59 PM on May 25, 2021 to submit your request to change a letter grade to P/F. 

How do I select the Pass/Fail grading option?
 The details of the process are still being developed.  More information will be coming.  

I am a student athlete. Does that influence my decision regarding the Pass/Fail option?
 Changing a course to Pass/Fail will have no impact on your athletic eligibility unless you were ineligible for the Spring 2021 semester.  If you were ineligible for the Spring 2021 semester, you will need to reestablish your credits and GPA to be eligible in the Fall of 2021.  Please contact the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance, Justin Meyer (jumeyer@edgewood.edu) if you have any questions on this topic.

I am a veteran.  Does that influence my decision regarding the Pass/Fail option?
 Yes, that should influence your decision.  If you are receiving state or federal veterans benefits you may contact Matthew Schroeder, Director of Military and Veteran Services at mjschroeder@edgwood.edu or Karene Cary, School Certifying Official at kcary@edgewood.edu to determine whether changing a course to Pass/Fail would be a wise option for you.

Will opting for a Pass/Fail grade have a negative impact on my Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid?
 In most cases, there would not be a negative impact. Students still earn credits for each course with a “Pass” grade.  However, Pass/Fail grades do not affect your cumulative GPA.   If your cumulative GPA is below the required 2.0 for undergraduate students or 3.0 for graduate students, you will violate the SAP requirements.  If you fall into this scenario, you may go through the appeal process to have your financial aid eligibility reviewed.  The unusual circumstances of the semester will be taken into consideration. Please contact Edgewood Central, ecentral@edgewood.edu, 608-663-4300 with any questions. 

What constitutes a Pass grade?
Letter grade of A, AB, B, BC, or C is equivalent to a High Pass (HP) grade.
Letter grade of CD, or D is equivalent to a Low Pass (LP) grade.
Letter grade of F is equivalent to a Fail (F*) grade.
(The ‘*’ denotes a failure in a P/F course as opposed to a letter grade course).

Are there any courses for which I can’t select a Pass/Fail grading method?

Courses that are already considered Pass/Fail courses prior to the implementation of this policy will remain Pass/Fail courses (i.e. you will earn either a P for Pass or an F* for Fail rather than a HP, LP or F*)

Will courses taken Pass/Fail count toward my graduation/major requirements?

Generally speaking, yes, in Spring 2021 any course taken Pass/Fail in which a HP or LP is earned will satisfy major/graduation requirements. The exceptions would be majors and minors requiring a specific GPA to graduate, so you should be sure to meet with your faculty advisor and/or professional advisor if you are in one of those majors and there is concern about being near that GPA threshold.

Will courses taken Pass/Fail count towards my major or minor?
 In most cases, yes, in Spring 2021 a course taken Pass/Fail in which a HP or LP is earned will count towards your major or minor.  An exception would be courses in majors or minors that require a C or better; these would need a grade of HP in order to fulfill the requirement.

What effect would opting for a Pass/Fail grade have on my getting into professional and graduate school?
 Most professional programs and graduate schools would rather see a letter grade rather than a Pass/Fail grade.  However, this is a decision that you should discuss with your faculty advisor and/or professional advisor.

Do Pass/Fail grades have an impact on my GPA? 
 Pass/Fail grades, because they do not have grade points, do not affect the GPA of a student. 

Will courses taken Pass/Fail affect my ability to graduate this semester?
 In order to meet the requirements for the baccalaureate degree you must have a GPA of 2.0 or better.  In order to meet the requirements for a degree from the graduate programs, you must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.  So, if you need a letter grade to improve your GPA in order to graduate, you may need to take one or more courses for letter grades.  Please talk with your advisor.

Individual majors and minors may have minimum GPA requirements that are different than the institutional GPA requirements listed above to graduate.  You should check with your faculty advisor and/or professional advisor if you are in one of these programs.      

Will I be able to repeat a course in which I earn a letter grade or P/F grade of “F*”?Yes, you can repeat a course regardless of its grading method.  You will not receive credit twice, however, and the most recent grade will always be the one calculated into the GPA.

If I take an incomplete for any course this semester, and thus miss the deadline to request the Pass/Fail option, is it possible to choose the Pass/Fail grading option for that course later, when I finish it?
 No.  A letter grade (other than ‘I’) must be earned in the course prior to the deadline to request that the course be graded Pass/Fail.   

Can I opt for Pass/Fail grading for just part of a class, but a regular letter grading for the other part?  For example, if I took the first part of a two semester course in Fall 2021 and took the second part of the course in Spring 2021, do I have to choose a letter grade for the spring course?
 No.  You will keep the letter grade you earned in the fall semester but you may choose to take the spring semester course for Pass/Fail.

Student, Faculty, and Staff Pledge 2020-21

Preventing the spread

In order to do everything we can to keep all of our community as safe as possible, the Edgewood College community will adhere to a number of safety protocols during the 2020-2021 Academic Year as a way of minimizing risk of the spread of COVID-19. These protocols are based on guidelines provided by Public Health Madison Dane County.

As a member of this Community, I will…

  • Wash my hands properly and regularly.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes.
  • Comply with posted Public Health Madison Dane County requirements.  
  • Wear a mask covering my nose and mouth while in indoor spaces.
  • Maintain social distancing.
  • Assist in the use of disinfectant wipes to clean shared public workspaces prior to use.
  • Take reasonable precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19 both on- and off-campus.
  • Avoid public places and minimize interpersonal contacts if I have been exposed or have any symptoms of any illness.
  • Report any potential exposure or symptoms to the College and follow any instructions to seek medical care or to quarantine.
  • Agree to be tested for COVID-19, as prescribed by health care professionals. Agree to be cooperative and flexible as we work together to support one another and give our community the best balance of learning and safety.

Task Force Fall 2020

A work group charged with shaping the return to campus this fall. We remain committed to on-campus, in-person living and learning at Edgewood College, beginning with welcoming our newest students on Sunday, August 16, 2020.

Members:

Andrew Manion
President, Co-Chair

Margaret Noreuil
Interim V.P. of Academic Affairs, Co-Chair

Al Brisack
Athletics Director & Head Baseball Coach

Frank Byrne
Trustee

Dawn Crim
Trustee

Patrick Gumieny
Director of Information Technology

Michael Guns
V.P. Business & Finance/CFO

Heather Harbach
V.P. for Student Development/Dean of Students

Cristie Jacobs
Executive Assistant to the President

Lucy Keane
Trustee

Michelle F. Kelley
Registrar

Mary Klink
Associate V.P. for Dominican Life and Mission

Scott Lanphear
Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Manager

Willie Larkin
Diversity Officer

Claire Mand
Director of Residence Life

Michael Metcalf
Director of Security & Transportation

Suann Saltzberry
Associate Director of Athletics/SWA

Amber Schultz
V.P. for Enrollment Management

Ed Taylor
Director of Strategic Communications

Katie Vesperman
Interim V.P. for Institutional Advancement

Dave Wittwer
Trustee