President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D., announced that for the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff, Wilson will hold classes remotely for the fall semester. The decision was made in light of the increased spread of the COVID-19 virus nationwide, new guidance and restrictions from the CDC, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the NCAA, and the limited availability of testing.
In making the announcement, Fugate said, “We have concluded, in consultation with faculty senate, that the safest approach is to deliver our curriculum through robust online, remote instruction for the upcoming semester. This decision is an incredibly difficult one to make, but based upon the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases across the country and the marked impact this is having on college-aged young people, we feel it is the right one.”
he decision was made in part because the new guidelines and restrictions that have emerged over recent weeks, coupled with the limited availability of testing, would have significantly restricted the on-campus experience for students. Also, the shift to remote learning for the entire semester provides students and their families with clarity and certainty and avoids the disruption that might occur otherwise.
Fugate said, “We know how disappointing this is for our students, and we join [them] in that pain. Our faculty and staff have been working incredibly hard to prepare to be together this fall, and I thank them for all their diligent work this summer. I know they, like me, wish for the day our entire Wilson family can be on campus.” In acknowledgment of the challenges facing students and their families, Wilson will offer each student who completes the fall semester one January term course at no additional tuition charge.
To ensure students receive the high-quality Wilson education that they have come to expect, the College has purchased the requisite technology and provided faculty and staff with enhanced training. The student development and academic support services teams will be available and ready to serve every student and help each individual navigate the semester. Fugate said, “The Wilson experience will be different, but we hope to create memorable and lasting moments virtually, in addition to the necessary support to help [students] succeed.”
Wilson may provide limited housing for students who cannot live at home because doing so would cause them hardship or because their home environment could not support remote learning. Students who are housed on campus will be required to abide by all COVID-19 health and safety protocols and will be required to wear face coverings, except when eating or in their rooms. Dining services will be limited, and group and face-to-face meetings, including extra-curricular activities, will not be permitted in adherence to social distancing guidelines.
Fugate and the college leadership are hopeful that the situation around the virus will improve, and face-to-face instruction can resume in January. The College will provide updates as details of new opportunities for students become available.
TOP completer, Benjamin Semple '20, ML Science, North Creek Academy, Calif.
Teachers from out-of-state can now earn Pennsylvania teaching certification through Wilson College’s innovative Teacher Online Pathway (TOP). Convenient, flexible and affordable, TOP is for current teachers who want to work towards certification on their own schedules. Pennsylvania teaching certification is recognized in most states in the U.S.
Classes are taught online and asynchronously—meaning students can learn at their own pace, create their own schedules and complete their coursework from the comfort of their homes. If they choose to pursue an accelerated schedule, they can complete the course requirements within as little as one academic year.
TOP offers Pennsylvania Level I certification in:
All TOP instructors are current or past educators with real-world classroom experience. Wilson College will hire a cooperating teacher and college supervisor within the student’s school district to oversee the intern teaching requirements for certification. For more information go to Wilson College’s TOP webpage or email tcp@wilson.edu.
Benefits of Wilson’s TOP teaching certification:
Requirements to enter the TOP out-of-state program:
Student responsibilities:
ROSEMONT, Pa. - The Colonial States Athletic Conference Board of Directors has announced today that the conference shall suspend all intercollegiate competition for the Fall 2020 season. A final decision on the possibility of future intercollegiate competition for fall sports, including the possibility of conducting fall intercollegiate competition in Spring 2021, as well as a plan for intercollegiate competition for winter sports, will be made by the end of September.
The CSAC Board of Directors and other administrative groups have worked tirelessly in collaboration with the conference office staff over the past weeks and months to develop multiple potential scenarios for intercollegiate competition in the fall while being mindful of health and safety guidelines from the NCAA, each member’s campus reopening plans and the landscape of college athletics. This difficult decision was made with careful deliberation and strategic assessment of the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conference and its administration will continue to explore safe training and intra-campus practice opportunities for its member institutions while continuing to be mindful of the rapidly-changing local, regional and national conditions.
“The decision by the CSAC to suspend competition for the Fall 2020 season is agonizing not only for our student-athletes but also for our entire campus community,” said Director of Athletics Tina Hill. “While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, the health and safety our student-athletes, coaches and staff is paramount. Although there will be no competition, we are eagerly anticipating the return of our student-athletes to campus this fall.”
Read the statement from President Wes Fugate regarding fall athletics here.
Fifty students completed the Wilson College Teacher Certification Pathways program.
TCP completers are: Jennifer Bair, Michael Buchheit, Michiyo Buckwalter, Heidi Buffington, Ryan Chamberlain, Brooke Clugh, Chalfant Conley, Rebecca Cortes, Darcie Crock, Lance Deane, Jason Engro, Montserrat Fonseca-Estrada, Miranda Forney, Allison Goodling, Danielle Guarriello-Rhoads, Benjamin Hallam, Heather Herman, Corey Keener, Brenda Kelly, Ashley Kline, Jennifer Knechtmann, Sarah Knouse, Kathryn Krishan, Jon Kunkel, Jessica Lowery, Andrew Macik, Mark Maglioli, Matthew Maple, Andrew Martin, Richard Martinez, Debra Mowe, Kelli Polly, Madhavi Ravi, Joel Rineer, Matthew O’Donnell, Kyle Ott, Benjamin Semple, Jarrett Smith, Carolyn Sollenberger, Garrett Strous, Tabitha Studer, Laura Suchanick, Hillary Swartz, Victoria Thomas, Quinn Turocy, Bailey Weibley, Madalyn Weikert, Jenifer Wellman, Yuk Ling Wong and Dody Zeigler.
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 1985, Wilson’s TCP program allows those who already have bachelor’s degrees to become certified to teach. Three distinct pathways fall under TCP: the TIP, FLIP (Foreign Language Intern Pathway) and TOP (Teacher Online Pathway) programs. A variety of certifications are available, covering all grades and including specialized areas such as special education.
ROSEMONT, Pa. - The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Board of Directors, in collaboration with the conference office staff and institutional administrators, remains committed to developing a safe, competitive and meaningful athletic experience for its student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators in 2020-21 in light of the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CSAC has created a Game Day Strategy task force comprised of athletic directors, athletic trainers and medical professionals from conference member institutions representing all three states in the conference's geographic footprint. The task force, whose top priority is to maintain a high level of health and safety expectations for CSAC member institutions, has developed a comprehensive set of guidelines and protocols for all participants involved in CSAC athletic contests. These guidelines were developed utilizing recommendations from the NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College Health Organization (ACHA) as well as the various regional health networks with conference affiliations.
The CSAC has conducted regular meetings with conference administrators throughout the past several months and will continue to engage the membership frequently in the weeks and months to come regarding all logistical facets of intercollegiate athletic competition. CSAC member institutions have expressed a commitment to adhering to federal, state and local guidelines relating to resocialization of student-athletes and athletics staff. The health and safety of each conference member's campus community remains of paramount importance to the CSAC.
Additional details related to the CSAC's plan to return to safe athletic activity shall be circulated upon approval by the conference's Board of Directors.
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James Wagner Assistant Commissioner Colonial States Athletic Conference Office: (833) 272-2123 Cell: (570) 854-4834jwagner@csacsports.org @wagssid
Wilson College has named William E. Sommers of Chambersburg, Pa., as the new vice president for enrollment management. Sommers brings 30 years of experience in the recruitment and retention of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Sommers, who will begin his responsibilities at Wilson on July 1, replaces David Boisvert, who served as an interim vice president in the role for three years. Sommers has dedicated his professional career to all aspects of enrollment management at higher education institutions. Beginning as an admissions counselor, he has progressed through ever-increasing levels of responsibility and leadership roles within the division. Sommers currently serves as the vice president for enrollment management at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. In this capacity, he fulfills the role of chief enrollment officer for the university, overseeing the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, and Information Technology Services. Prior to Shepherd University, Sommers served as the associate vice president for enrollment management at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pa., from 2013 to 2016. With the assistance of Spelman Johnson, a search firm specializing in higher education leadership roles, Wilson conducted an exhaustive national search for this important position. “Now more than ever, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is absolutely critical that we have strong leadership, experience and creativity guiding our student enrollment processes,” said Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. “Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. He has a deep understanding of our region and the higher education landscape. Those that have worked with him describe him as a collaborative, data-driven leader, and I know he will be a great fit for our executive team as we continue to navigate the constantly changing world of higher education.” Reporting to the president of the College, the vice president for enrollment management is responsible for providing vision, leadership and effective administration of the enrollment management division and its functions. The position works closely with the president, the executive team, academic deans and directors, faculty, staff, students and the Board of Trustees to strengthen a collaborative college-wide effort to enroll, retain and support students. “I am excited to join the team at Wilson College and am very much looking forward to helping the College continue its past success in recruiting both traditional and non-traditional students,” said Sommers. “Wilson is a great institution and has a lot to offer students, especially those looking for a college that can offer a more personalized student experience.” Sommers holds a bachelors of arts degree in speech communications from Ripon College and a master of science degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University, both located in Wisconsin. Founded in 1869 and located in Chambersburg, Pa., Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 35 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and more. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation. The College had a fall 2019 enrollment of 1,620. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
Beginning with the fall 2020 semester, students accepted into the Wilson College Single Parent Scholar Program will no longer have to pay for on-campus housing.
The Single Parent Scholar (SPS) Program, which is open to single parents who qualify academically for admission to Wilson, allows participants to live in on-campus housing with up to two children. In addition, the College provides SPS students with free child care in the award-winning Wilson College Child Care Center.
Wilson is taking the added measure of offering on-campus housing at no cost to program participants starting this fall to help alleviate some of the financial burden that is unique to parents with children.
“While single parents often have a strong desire to earn a degree, they find the financial commitment unrealistic and often unattainable,” said Wilson President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. “I am thrilled Wilson is able to make this program change and help parents not only further their own education, but also improve the lives of their children.”
Since its inception in 1996, the SPS Program’s goal has been to make it easier for single parents to get a college degree. Formerly only for single mothers, the program was opened to single fathers in 2015.
Under the new policy on housing, there is a four-year limit on the no-cost housing. If a student does not graduate in four years, they would have to begin paying a room fee at that point, according to SPS Program Director Katie Kough.
No other changes are planned in the program. SPS participants will still pay for tuition and their dining hall meal plan, while their children will continue to eat for free.
Wilson is committed to delivering a personalized educational experience at an affordable cost to all of its students, according to Fugate.” The Single Parent Scholar Program is a great example of our institution identifying challenges that prevent some students from achieving their dream of college , and then working to find a solution.”
The College limits the number of Single Parent Scholars to 15 students plus their children. Families live in two-room suites in Prentis Hall, with shared kitchen facilities, study areas and play rooms.
Almost 300 Wilson students will successfully graduate this year! This is a remarkable achievement considering the challenges they faced and overcame when the campus had to close during their final semester in response to the COVOD 19 pandemic. Parents, friends, faculty and any member of the Wilson community can celebrate this success and show support for a graduate or all the graduates by simply following the link to our downloadable graphics.
On this page you can choose from a series of Wilson cover photos or “profile frames” that will add a congratulatory message to your Facebook page. The steps are easy to follow and clearly explained. Displaying these messages of support for the Class of 2020 will mean a lot to the grads.
And while you’re on the downloadables page, check out the other ways you can show support for Wilson College. You can download virtual Wilson backgrounds for your next Zoom meeting or images of the campus you can color to help you relax.
Wilson College recently signed a dual enrollment agreement with the Shippensburg Area School District (SASD) that allows qualified Shippensburg Area Senior High School students to take classes at Wilson at a reduced cost.
Under the terms of the accord, Shippensburg high school juniors and seniors with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 can enroll in and receive full college credit for up to two courses per semester. The students will take classes at Wilson unless a cohort of at least 12-15 students wants to enroll in the same course, in which case the class may be offered onsite at the high school and taught by a Wilson faculty member.
The pact, Wilson’s 11th dual enrollment agreement, reflects Wilson’s commitment to making a degree affordable, college officials said.
“Giving students the opportunity to accumulate college credits while they are still in high school allows them to finish their degrees sooner and save money on tuition,” said Wilson Vice President for Enrollment David Boisvert.
Wilson continues to work with independent schools and school districts in the Tri-State area to provide dual enrollment opportunities. Current agreements include the Chambersburg Area, Greencastle-Antrim, Fannett Metal, South Western and Waynesboro Area school districts, as well as with the Cumberland Valley Christian School, Global Vision Christian School, Shalom Christian Academy, St. Maria Goretti High School and the Franklin County Career and Technology Center.
Approximately 119 students presented the results of their undergraduate and graduate research covering a variety of disciplines and topics at Wilson College’s 11th annual Student Research Day, held Friday, May 1. The presentations were held virtually using Zoom videoconferencing to allow students to present their research to an audience of campus community members online. Approximately 22 students gave oral presentations based on their work, which was produced in conjunction with faculty advisers, beginning at 9 a.m. Two sessions were held concurrently in the morning, one with a welcome given by Wilson President Wesley R. Fugate and one by Vice President for Academic Affairs Elissa Heil. One session was held in the afternoon and, as always, the day concluded with the prestigious Disert Scholar presentation.
In addition to the oral presentations, one student presented a dance performance she had videotaped and other students shared their work graphically in what is normally a poster session, but this year, consisted of PDFs made available online. Student Research Day was “a proud day” for Wilson, according to Heil, who is also the dean of the faculty.
“In any typical year, Student Research Day is a wonderful way to close our academic year, as we feature and celebrate student work,” Heil said. “This year, we were able to move the day online, thanks to the resilience, creativity and ingenuity of our faculty, staff and students. Our ability to pivot this way shows how we embody the mission of the college: to prepare students to meet the challenges of a very complex global society—and one that is facing a global pandemic." Student research presentations focused on the humanities, sciences and social sciences. The Disert Scholar award is given to the student with the best honors thesis proposal. The 2019-20 scholar is Joy Merchant, a senior who is majoring in both English and history and political science. She read a powerful entry from her collection of short, creative nonfiction essays called Encephalon, which focuses on a variety of brain-related issues through anecdotes involving neuroscience, surgery, psychology and mental health.
Other presentations included examinations of: how age factors in the formation of false memories; the effects of cannabidiol on the wound-healing process; the relationship between time spent on social media and a person’s confidence level; the effects of environmental stress on the equine immune response to a specific parasite; the animal-human interaction and how it affects the human’s psychological and physiological health and well-being; the evolution of tanks as machines of war over history; the effects of providing enrichment activity on aggression in swine raised as livestock; and a study of how a fermented fresh food diet for dogs influences the production of gut bacteria.
Wilson’s Student Research Day concluded with the annual Academic Awards presentation, which was also held remotely using Zoom. For a complete rundown of the awards and winners, visit www.wilson.edu/students-faculty-honored-virtual-academic-awards-ceremony. Student Research Day at Wilson was founded in 2010 as a way to recognize and celebrate the research, scholarship and creative activities of students and their faculty mentors. For more information, visit www.wilson.edu/student-research-day-and-academic-awards-ceremony.
