In June, President Richard M. Englert announced Temple’s plans for a safe return to in-person operations on campus for the fall 2020 semester, should conditions allow. The university’s resumption of in-person operations will hinge on the whole university community, as well as visitors to campus, observing four public health pillars to ensure everyone’s health and safety. These pillars are: use of face coverings, physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and personal health monitoring.

Facilities management staff members are working diligently to make the necessary changes to physical spaces on campus to facilitate a healthy environment, such as new plexiglass shields in reception areas to ensure safe separation in places where distancing might be difficult and the removal of some seats in public spaces to de-densify areas as much as possible.

These are our overarching goals for a safe, healthy return to campus.

• Safeguard lives​: Keeping individuals in and around the Temple community healthy and safe is our top priority.
• Safeguard the institution​: Temple is devoted to its community and providing the resources necessary to learn. Protecting the institution means creating safe learning environments and connecting students with learning tools and support services.
• Provide a quality education​: By safeguarding lives and the institution, we are able to continue to provide the quality education our students expect and deserve.

As long as state and local guidelines permit, classes will be conducted in a hybrid manner that blends in-person and online instruction. In an effort to preserve public health and prepare for a safe spring 2021 semester, in-person activities and instruction will end Nov. 20, at the start of fall break, and transition to remote instruction for the remainder of the fall semester.

The university’s attendance policy has been standardized to accommodate students who are ill or are required to self-quarantine for a period of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend in-person classes, and/or participate in classes or portions of classes that are taught remotely, to the extent that they are able. Though increased flexibility will be granted, in all cases, course assessments such as assignments, tests and exams must be completed for learning goals to be reached.

Instructors are required to record attendance for each in-person or synchronous remote meeting using an online attendance system designated by the university. This will help facilitate contact tracing if a student or instructor tests positive for COVID-19. Recording of attendance will also provide an opportunity for outreach from student services and academic support units to support students should they become ill.

If students are unable to attend class or participate in course activities, they are expected to take the following steps.

• Notify instructors of the absence, in advance of the absence if possible. 
• Call Temple’s Student Health Services (215-204-7500). Proof of evaluation will be provided to the student. 
• Keep up with coursework, as much as possible. 
• Participate in class activities and submit assignments electronically, to the extent possible and as directed by the instructor. 
• Reach out to their instructor if illness will require late submission or other modifications to deadlines or work requirements. 
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs and other critical academic activities, if necessary.

If they are unable to attend an online class or participate in course activities, students are expected to take the following steps.

• Notify instructors of the inability to participate, in advance if possible. 
• Call Temple’s Student Health Services (215-204-7500). Proof of evaluation will be provided to the student. 
• Keep up with coursework, as much as possible. 
• Reach out to the instructor if illness will require late submission or other modifications to deadlines or work requirements. 
• Work with their instructors to reschedule any synchronous exams, labs and other critical academic activities, if necessary.
• If it is not possible to continue active engagement in a course due to illness or other COVID-19-related circumstance, students may opt to withdraw from the course or accept an incomplete.

Yes, you will still have the chance to adjust your schedule and add or drop classes as usual. Instructions on how to search for specific course formats—in-person, hybrid or online—will be provided, and students will be able to search for sections in the formats they prefer. While not all classes will be able to be offered in-person, we are working hard to accommodate the needs and wants of our students while also taking into account important health and safety measures. 

On July 15, students were notified that scheduling changes to allow for proper physical distancing were finalized and that they should review and consider adjustments to their schedules based on their personal preferences and needs. Read the full message. The drop/add period for fall 2020 will be the same as it is in any other semester, and students may adjust their schedules through this period. Watch this video for more information on how to adjust your schedule according to instructional format. 

Students planning to live in on-campus housing should note that, in order to allow for housing decisions to be made based on your finalized course schedule, the deadline to cancel your housing and have your deposit refunded has been extended to July 31.

Yes. It is good practice to check your roster before the start of the semester and to reach out to your academic advisor with any questions.

When you search for classes under Browse Classes within the Student Tools section of TUportal, use the Advanced Search feature and scroll to the Instructional Method area to find classes offered online, in a hybrid format or in person.

In order to follow proper Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health department guidelines, Temple is working to ensure proper physical distancing can take place on campus during the fall semester. This effort to maintain a safe distance between people has significantly reduced classroom capacities around campus from more than 15,600 seats to about 3,300, and thus requires some classes to be moved online or to a hybrid format, to protect everyone’s health and safety.

Students may have noticed changes to their rosters in June and July as updates were being made to the schedule. These changes are important in order to protect the health and safety of everyone in the Temple community while also ensuring that students can continue to make progress toward their degrees.

Students received notification via email on July 15 that the scheduling changes to allow for proper physical distancing were complete, and that they should review and consider adjustments to their schedules. Read the communication about course formats and schedule adjustments.

To protect everyone’s health and safety and allow for proper physical distancing in classrooms and campus buildings, a mix of different types of course formats will be offered in the fall. These include in-person classes, hybrid classes, which blend in-person and online learning, and fully online classes.

Learn more about the course formats being offered and how to read and adjust your schedule in this video.

Yes. Temple University Libraries offers a number of remote student support services for students unable to attend in-person classes.

If you’re on campus and planning to visit us in person, please review this list of things to expect, including the implementation of our four public health pillars and librarian visits by appointment only, when you arrive.

All common areas, particularly places that many people touch (such as doorknobs, elevator buttons and railings), are being cleaned with hospital-grade quaternary disinfectant A-456II, which is a product listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as protective against COVID-19. All bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized daily.

As always, if you have a health condition that supports the need for reasonable accommodation, you should contact Temple’s Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) for assistance at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280.

Yes. As part of Temple’s return, we will enhance our current campus testing and contact tracing initiative. Our dedicated team at Student and Employee Health Services has been testing for the virus since the early days of the pandemic, and that work continues today.

We plan to shift our symptomatic testing site out of the fourth floor of 1700 N. Broad St. and into a space that will become available on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the street level of the Morgan Hall tower. With its own entrance and a new reservation system, this site will allow us to provide local testing to symptomatic Temple students and staff.

Read more about Temple’s new testing site.

In addition, Temple recently announced a new 10-hour Contact Tracing Training Certification course. The Contact Tracing Training Course teaches individuals of broad skill levels how to track the spread of the COVID-19 virus. With enrollment open to all at no or low cost, hundreds have already enrolled in the training, including Temple students, health professionals and members of the public interested in fulfilling this essential role amid the current pandemic. The training is being run by Temple's College of Public Health.

If you have personal circumstances that lead you to prefer a full or partial online course load for the fall 2020 semester, you should consult your academic advisor and/or academic program coordinator, who will be able to assist you.

Temple University is planning to offer classes in person, online and in a hybrid format (a mix of in-person and online) for the fall. The fall schedule has been updated to reflect changes.

Please note that tuition and fees are set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for all or any part of the academic year.

• Public health pillars: Everyone on campus will be expected to adhere to four important public health pillars: proper use of face coverings, physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and personal health monitoring. Details on each pillar are below.
  • Proper use of face coverings: Everyone must properly wear face coverings in buildings, and their use is encouraged everywhere on campus. Masks will be available at four locations across Main Campus for those who don’t already have them and for those visiting campus.
  • Frequent hand-washing: In addition to encouraging our community members to wash their hands frequently, hand sanitizer stations will soon be installed throughout Temple’s campuses, along with reminders to avoid touching your face after touching surfaces.
  • Maintaining a safe space between you and others: Physical distancing reminders will be affixed on floors and walls of campus buildings to ensure that everyone remains at a safe distance when on-campus operations resume. Classrooms and other common spaces will have similar distancing requirements.
  • Monitoring your own health on a daily basis: Taking your temperature, watching for other symptoms and, if warranted, seeking help through your primary care physician or Student and Employee Health Services are important for everyone on campus. 
  • Calendar changes: Further, in-person activities and instruction for the fall 2020 semester will end after Nov. 20, at the start of the fall break. The remainder of semester will be completed remotely to minimize the possibility of a recurrent outbreak and to allow for planning and preparation for the spring 2021 semester.
• Testing and tracing: As part of the return to campus, the university will continue—and enhance—the campus testing and contact tracing initiative. Student and Employee Health Services have been testing for the virus since the early days of the pandemic, and that work is continuing. The symptomatic testing operation will be enhanced by shifting the test site from 1700 N. Broad St. to a space that will become available on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the street level of the Morgan Hall tower. With its own entrance and a new reservation system, this location will allow provision of local testing to symptomatic Temple students and staff. Learn more about the site and the testing conducted there. The Health Services team is establishing a contact tracing unit that will allow the opportunity to provide greater information to city and state health officials in the event that someone in the university community tests positive.
• Ongoing university-affiliated travel suspensions: Currently, all university-sponsored, connected or funded international travel by students, faculty and staff is suspended. Domestic travel for all is still strongly discouraged. This decision will be updated based on international, national, state and local guidance. The CDC advises that anyone who has recently traveled internationally should stay home and closely monitor their own health for 14 days upon return to the U.S.
• Changes to physical spaces to facilitate distancing and healthy environments: Plexiglass shields will be installed in reception areas to ensure safe separation in places where distancing might be difficult, and reminders to remain at least six feet apart in public areas will be affixed to floors and walls in campus buildings. Some seating will also be removed in public spaces to reduce density in common areas as much as possible. Hand sanitizer stations will also be installed in campus buildings.
• Preparations to respond to a rapidly changing situation: Responding to the coronavirus pandemic has required the university, like other institutions, to be nimble when it is necessary to preserve the health and safety of our community. The university will be ready to pivot to primarily online instruction at any point during the fall semester should it be required.
• Reduced in-person classes and hybrid education: All in-person instruction will be conducted in a way that preserves everyone’s health and allows for appropriate physical distancing, and a blend of in-person and online education will be applied. Classes that are typically very large will be taught online and in smaller break-out sessions to limit the number of people gathered.

Yes. In-person activities and instruction for the fall 2020 semester will end Nov. 20, at the start of the fall break. The remaining week of classes, study period and finals would then be conducted remotely.

Doing this will offer several advantages, not the least of which is giving university leadership an opportunity to assess the fall semester’s success, minimize the possibility of a recurrence and finalize plans for the spring 2021 semester.

Yes. Student and Employee Health Services began testing members of the university community for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, during the earliest days of the pandemic. This testing program will continue and will be moved into a more easily accessible location on the ground floor of Morgan Hall, which has its own entrance, to ensure that testing can continue to be provided throughout the fall semester for students, faculty and staff. With the establishment of this on-campus testing site, there will also be a broader, more in-depth testing plan deployed.

Read more about Temple’s new testing site.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will also be expected to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, wear face coverings while on campus, wash their hands often, and monitor their own health for signs or symptoms of any illness, including COVID-19.

Everyone has an important role to play in preventing the spread of the coronavirus and other respiratory illnesses. There are many simple steps everyone can take to keep themselves and others healthy. These include:

• frequently washing your hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice);
• using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol in the absence of soap and water;
• wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth when in public places where it is difficult to maintain social distancing from others (read tips on face coverings from the CDC);
• adhering to physical distancing guidelines by staying at least six feet away from others in public places and avoiding parties and other large gatherings;
• avoiding touching your face, especially before washing your hands;
• regularly cleaning and disinfecting “high-touch” items (e.g., cell phones) and areas in your home (e.g., bathrooms, doorknobs);
• staying home and contacting your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of illness, especially cough, shortness of breath, fever, severe fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, loss of sense of taste or smell, or muscle aches; and
• following directives issued by the CDC as well as local and state government and health authorities.

COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, is mainly spread between people when they are in close contact, or within six feet of each other. The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when a person who is infected coughs, sneezes or talks, and those droplets are inhaled by someone else. Some people infected with COVID-19 do not display any symptoms but can still spread the virus.

If you are sick—especially with symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell—contact your healthcare provider, Student Health Services (215-204-7500) or Employee Health Services (215-204-2679). Be sure to tell them your symptoms and inform if you believe you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. They can further screen you for COVID-19 and, if needed, help you get tested and recommend the next steps you should take.

It is important to note that a positive test will not affect your standing with the university. Our main goal will always be the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, so that you can continue to work toward your learning goals.

Physical distancing means maintaining a safe physical distance from people outside of your immediate household. Because the coronavirus spreads from person to person in close contact settings, keeping at least six feet of distance from others reduces the likelihood of transmission of the virus from person to person. Physical distancing also means avoiding gathering in groups and staying out of crowded places.

You should wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (about the length of singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Consult this CDC page for more specific guidance on proper handwashing and hand sanitizing techniques.

While most of the housing inventory on Main Campus allows for acceptable circulation and physical distancing, changes are being made to reassign students in order to clear Johnson and Hardwick Residence Halls. Students originally assigned to Johnson and Hardwick should have received information on selecting a new housing assignment from University Housing and Residential Life.

Please keep in mind that in an effort to keep everyone on campus safe and healthy, we are ending our in-person presence on campus on Nov. 20, at the start of the fall break. The remainder of the semester will be conducted online. In recognition of this, fees for all Temple owned and operated housing will be reduced by 15% for the fall semester.

As Temple University implements a physical distancing strategy to address concerns surrounding the coronavirus, Campus Recreation facilities on Main Campus will be closed until further notice. Currently, limited outdoor activity is permitted with physical distancing measures in place.

As per Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s orders, no indoor fitness activities are permitted in university facilities in our current yellow phase of return. Sports club activities and contact sport intramurals for the fall 2020 semester are also suspended.

However, intramural programs that will be offered will be updated on the Campus Recreation website. Campus Recreation also offers Esports intramurals, and provides a number of other virtual rec resources. Also, Group Fitness Sessions, including yoga, kickboxing and more, are offered virtually.

Find out more about Temple’s new recreation protocols by accessing the full guide via TUPortal under the Return to Campus tab. You can also check temple.edu/return. These resources are frequently updated with the most current information, such as new protocols and guides for planning your return.

The university has convened the Return Team made up of key representatives of every area within our campus. This group meets daily to build out scenarios for what campus life could look like over the next several months. Every member of this team is committed to devising and implementing return plans that maximize safety while ensuring that quality teaching, education and research can continue to take place. More than 150 dedicated staff members, faculty members and administrators have been involved in planning for a safe return to campus in the fall.

Yes. Similar to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Temple will employ a phased approach for reopening for the fall semester, with each phase allowing for additional people on campus in a strictly regulated fashion. As part of this effort, new protocols for keeping buildings clean and employees safe are being put into place.

The university is currently in phase three of reopening. During the earlier phases, in addition to the essential medical and safety staff who have been on campus throughout this period, we slowly added small teams of construction and facilities workers who have been making changes to our buildings to ensure a healthy environment. For instance, new plexiglass shields are being installed in reception areas to ensure safe separation in places where distancing might be difficult. We are also removing some seats in public spaces to de-densify areas as much as possible.

The second phase, which started in late June, saw an increase in research activities at select locations on Temple’s campuses. Many of Temple’s groundbreaking researchers, including those at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, focused on COVID-19. The second phase also saw increased activity in clinics at locations like the Kornberg School of Dentistry and our School of Podiatric Medicine. These clinics continue to address the needs of our neighbors, who rely on Temple for vital treatment.

The third phase was introduced on June 23, the beginning of the Summer II session. Almost all classes for Summer II were moved online. However, a small number of classes resumed on campus, primarily those taught through the College of Public Health. These classes require in-person instruction, and the students enrolled in them had been apprised of the university’s plan. During this phase, a number of protocols and procedures will be pilot tested in preparation for larger numbers of students in the fall.

During phase four, slated to begin Aug. 1, growing numbers of people on campus are anticipated as students move back into the neighborhood.

The fifth and final phase will begin as students move into university residence halls in mid-August on dates as they are assigned, followed by fall semester classes beginning on Aug. 24. Given reduced infection rates and authorization from state and local authorities, a blend of in-person and online instruction will take place during the fall semester. Very large classes will occur online and in various break-out sessions. Other classes will occur in person and in hybrid fashion.

While our campus will look different, we do believe a campus presence is not only possible, but can be done safely.

Temple will follow the guidelines and restrictions put in place through local, state and federal governments. We will also continue to follow and comply with guidance issued by public health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An Academic Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on academic functions such as teaching and learning, clinical, student placements, enrollment, international.

An Operations Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on university operations such as housing, facilities, business services and emergency management.

A Student Life Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on student life functions including university housing, student engagement, student services, student programs and non-academic issues.

A Business Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on university business functions including human resources, information technology, facilities and purchasing.

A Research Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on the university’s research operations.

The scenarios under consideration envision a broad range of possibilities, from a slightly modified traditional semester, to a blend of smaller classes, continued online teaching and gatherings that are limited in size, or anticipate greater use of online options. Details of the four scenarios follow.

• Reasonably normal, which will allow for in-person learning and on-campus residence, but require students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings. Mass gatherings will not be allowed and large lecture-style classes will be reduced. Recreational facilities will be available with extra cleaning. NCAA activities will resume. 
• Restricted semester, which allows for some in-person learning but limits gatherings to less than 25–50 people. Restrictions will be placed on housing and sports and recreation. Campus dining will provide take-out meals only. NCAA activities will resume with restrictions. 
• Essentials only, which allows for heavily restricted in-person instruction and housing. Gatherings will be limited to fewer than 25 people. No sports and recreation will be allowed. Campus dining will provide take-out meals only. NCAA activities will remain suspended. 
• Comprehensive remote, which minimizes in-person learning by restricting gatherings to 10 or fewer people. Essential employees will return or remain on campus. Research operations will be prioritized. Student, faculty and staff support measures will be enhanced for remote learning and working environments.

No. You don’t have to register personal travel with Temple if you work at a U.S. campus, but personal travel to areas heavily affected by sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is strongly discouraged. You can find out more about these locations on the CDC’s website.

Temple University Japan faculty and staff have a different requirement. See the TUJ FAQ.

For your own safety, you should stay up to date on the travel guidelines of reputable international and federal agencies and current federal quarantines. See the CDC’s latest travel notices and the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories. The World Health Organization also has information and advice about traveling during the COVID-19 epidemic on its website.

The CDC advises that anyone who has recently traveled internationally should stay home and closely monitor their own health for 14 days upon return to the U.S.

Most importantly, if you develop a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, you should immediately contact health care professionals—your family physician, local health authorities, or Student or Employee Health. You should call before visiting any health care provider so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Please note that this situation continues to evolve globally, so you should stay up-to-date on the CDC’s travel notices and on the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories if you have plans to travel.

The commonwealth is using a three-phase matrix to determine when counties and/or regions are ready to begin easing some restrictions on work, congregate settings, and social interactions.

The university remains committed to carefully monitoring and responding to new information about COVID-19 and its impacts. In developing the four return scenarios, it is understood that our plans must be flexible and include contingencies for changing conditions over time. We are prepared to deviate from outlined plans in order to take swift actions to keep our community safe.

A coronavirus is a type of virus that can cause a wide range of illnesses, from the common cold to severe pneumonia. The novel coronavirus at the center of the current epidemic has been named SARS-CoV-2, and the illness it causes has been named COVID-19 (abbreviation for coronavirus disease 2019). This is a new strain of coronavirus.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include chills, cough, fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms and their severity vary widely from person to person, and some people infected with the virus may exhibit no symptoms at all but still be able to spread it. If you are concerned you could have the virus, consult the CDC’s symptom self-checker tool.

It is spread through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets, similar to a cold or the flu. According to the CDC, person-to-person spread of this coronavirus is most likely to occur with close contact, or contact within six feet, with an infected person who coughs or sneezes.

There is currently no medication to treat or prevent coronavirus. Like many viruses, steps may be taken to manage symptoms caused by coronavirus. Those who become severely ill with the novel coronavirus may require hospitalization.

The novel coronavirus causing the current outbreak of illness has been officially named since the outbreak began. SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus itself, while COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is the name of the illness the virus causes.

Self-monitoring means staying at home and avoiding group gatherings and public places. During this time, individuals should also monitor their health carefully, checking their temperature at least once a day. Learn more about what it means to self-monitor.

Quarantine is separating people who appear to be healthy but may have been exposed to a contagious illness to make sure that they do not become sick and spread the illness to others. It typically covers the “incubation period” of a given illness, which refers to the period of time between exposure and when symptoms of the illness are known to appear.

Isolation means keeping people who are sick and contagious separated from people who are healthy to ensure that they do not spread the illness.

There are four important steps you can take to protect your health and the health of others in your household and community. Temple will also be implementing these policies as its U.S. campuses are reopened in phases throughout the summer and for the fall 2020 semester. These measures are as follows.

• Face coverings: Everyone must wear face coverings in buildings, and their use is encouraged everywhere on campus. Masks will be available for those who don’t already have them and for those visiting campus.
• Frequent hand-washing: In addition to encouraging our community members to wash their hands frequently, hand sanitizer stations will soon be installed throughout Temple’s campuses, along with reminders to avoid touching your face after touching surfaces.
• Maintaining a safe space between you and others: Physical distancing reminders will be affixed on floors and walls of campus buildings to ensure that everyone remains at a safe distance when on-campus operations resume. Classrooms and other common spaces will have similar distancing requirements.
• Monitoring your own health on a daily basis: Taking your temperature, watching for other symptoms and, if warranted, seeking help through your primary care physician or Student and Employee Health Services are important for everyone on campus. Most importantly, if you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others to avoid spreading illness.