Latest Updates

We are pleased to announce that starting this Thursday, Oct. 17, campus amenities and buildings will reopen, including the fitness center, and will be available for anyone needing electricity, internet access or snacks. These spaces are here to provide you with comfort and support as we transition back to campus life.

There will be no classes Monday-Wednesday at Gannon University’s Ruskin Campus as storm cleanup gets started in the greater Tampa area. The campus was already closed for today and this weekend. The buildings will remain closed into next week. We will continue to assess conditions and will send updates as needed.

We are hoping you are in a safe place as Hurricane Milton approaches landfall later today. Heavy rains and strong winds are already in the area around our Ruskin Campus.

The hurricane is expected to also bring a record storm surge and widespread flooding.

We are being told to expect significant damage across Hillsborough County. What this means for our campus is something we will learn together in the days ahead. We are continuing to track the storm and made as many preparations as possible. What happens next for all of us will depend on the level of damage and the amount of disruption to the greater Ruskin community.

Though the academic calendar says we should be back Monday for in-person instruction, we will not decide that until Friday or sometime over the weekend – until we’ve had a chance to assess the campus and understand how much damage the community sustained.

We are shifting to remote instruction Monday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, as Hurricane Milton gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico and heads our way.

We are continuing to track the progress of tropical storm Helene, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday. Most forecast models suggest a hurricane landfall in Florida or the Gulf Coast by Thursday night with strong, life-threatening storm surge, high winds and heavy rain.

As of now, our plan is to shift to remote learning Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27.

The university is continuing to work through Penelec to receive updated information regarding the estimated time power is expected to be restored. It is still uncertain when that will occur.

A team of university members are developing a plan to best accommodate all our students and employees, while minimizing disruption to your campus and academic experiences as best possible. We expect to share more on that plan forward this afternoon around 3 p.m.

Several buildings on our Erie Campus remain without power, which will affect operations today.

We are working with Penelec to restore electricity and heat to many of our residence halls and to some offices, but so far we have no assurances about when that will happen.

All our academic buildings as well as Nash Library and the Waldron Campus Center are open and fully operational.

Ruskin Campus classes to remain remote following Hurricane Idalia

Classes will continue to be delivered remotely Thursday, Aug. 31 and Friday, Sep. 1. In-person classes on campus will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The Ruskin Campus will be re-opened tomorrow and Friday.

University Chaplain Fr. Michael Kesicki shares a Prayer Before a Storm as we continue to prepare for Hurricane Idalia.

Hillsborough County has issued an evacuation order for Zone A effective today that includes all low-lying areas as well as mobile and manufactured homes due to Tropical Storm Idalia.

We are continuing to monitor Tropical Depression 10, or Invest 93L, which is nearing tropical storm intensity today and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday over the Eastern Gulf of Mexico according to the National Weather Service

We no longer mandate isolation if you test positive for COVID-19, including results you receive through Gannon’s testing center. We encourage you to test for COVID and other illnesses that are circulating, including flu and RSV.

Reminder effective Jan. 1, 2023, we will no longer require isolation if you test positive for COVID-19, including at Gannon's testing center.

In addition, we will only require vaccination for Gannon-sponsored travel if mandated by destination countries or partner organizations, whether international or domestic.

We will be making two adjustments to our COVID-19 protocols in the new year:

Effective Jan. 1, 2023, we will no longer require isolation if you test positive for COVID-19, including at Gannon's testing center.

In addition, we will only require vaccination for Gannon-sponsored travel if mandated by destination countries or partner organizations, whether international or domestic.

Good morning. Most of us are waking to a layer of heavy, wet snow. Those west and south of campus may have significant accumulations. Some area public schools are on two-hour delays.

Our crews have been working for several hours clearing sidewalks and parking lots, and we are ready to see you this morning.

Classes at our Ruskin Campus will be remote Thursday as the worst of Tropical Storm Nicole passes through the region. Nicole is expected to make landfall on the east coast of Florida as a hurricane early Thursday.

We are tracking progress of sub-tropical storm Nicole, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Wednesday evening into Thursday when it will hit southeast Florida. Heavy rains and tropical-force winds are expected.

We share with you that Kevin Niako, an undergraduate computer science and software engineering major, was reported missing following a kayaking incident on Saturday, Nov. 5. At present, details are limited as State Police continue to investigate. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

The prayers of the entire Gannon community go out to those closest to Kevin.

Our Ruskin Campus will reopen tomorrow for in-person classes.

Though there is much rebuilding ahead for the communities around and near our campus, the feedback we’ve received from our students, faculty and staff has shown they are ready to return to campus and to their work. Classes will operate on their normal schedule Wednesday and afterward, unless instructed otherwise by faculty.

The end of September was marked by significant devastation brought by hurricanes to the Caribbean and to Florida. We are making efforts to connect with and support our students in the affected areas to assure them of our closeness and our prayers. 

We are grateful to all who are diligently working to ensure the safety of those affected by the storm and those beginning the clean-up. The recovery has started but we know there is much yet to come.

It is with caring hearts we share our continued prayers and provide our support to our Gannon Family members recovering from the hurricane in their communities.

We are continuing to assess the state of our Gannon students, faculty and staff in Florida and the Ruskin Campus. Everyone is impacted in some way, and we are beginning to gather a more clear understanding of how devastating this was across Florida

The devastation across Florida from Hurricane Ian is staggering. Our hearts are with all those who have been affected and particularly with our colleagues and students who are still assessing next steps after the storm.

Tropical Storm Ian has been upgraded to hurricane status and continues to build strength. We’ve continued to track the storm and the updates issued by the National Weather Service, as well as state and local government agencies. With this, we’ve adjusted our plans.

Campus will be closed after 3 p.m. today through Friday, Sept. 30. Classes will be held as normal until 3 p.m dismissal for all classes to allow faculty and students to be organized for the remainder of the week. There will be no classes tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 27) to allow you to prepare for the storm. Classes will be remote Wednesday through Friday as much as possible for those with access to power and internet as to not impact students’ academic schedules as best we can. Use your discretion based upon your personal location and situation

COVID-19 remains a public health concern and we are continuing to track its presence on our campuses and in our adjacent communities. If community transmission rates return to high levels and severity of the illness rises, we will reevaluate and adjust as we have over the past few years in our management of this disease.

We are excited by our first cohort’s start earlier this month, and we are looking forward to the start of our remaining cohorts in August. As we welcome new and returning students and employees to campus for summer sessions and the Fall 2022 semester, we would like to share an update on Gannon’s current COVID-19 policies and procedures.

COVID-19 case counts at Gannon University’s Erie and Ruskin campuses and in the communities surrounding them have plummeted in recent weeks. Given this shift and the success of our other efforts to protect our Gannon community from COVID-19, the university is suspending its surveillance testing program of unvaccinated faculty, staff, and students. This is effective immediately for both campuses.

As  the start of face-to-face classes has been delayed until Jan. 18, we have  updated the guide to our hours and operations on our Erie and Ruskin  campuses that was shared prior to the holiday  break. We hope that this revised  guide will assist those who may need to return prior to the  start of in-person classes by sharing the resources available to them during  this timeframe.

As the university announced the delay of the start of in-person classes to Jan. 18, we have also made adjustments to move-in and required testing for on-boarding and unvaccinated students to align with this revised date.

As we have become accustomed to these past two years, our plans are made to accommodate change based upon our environment and the realities we are managing within our Gannon community. The recent exposures of both students and colleagues to the COVID-19 virus has led to our decision to delay the start of in-person classes at our Erie and Ruskin campuses to Tuesday, Jan. 18, and to shift formal move-in to our residence halls by a week.

We wanted to send a message welcoming you back to campus, as well as share some thoughts and information. First, happy New Year’s Eve. We encourage you to ring in the New Year and to do so in a safe setting. Crowded venues and gatherings have been a source of spread over the past few weeks, based on what’s been reported to us and in the news. 

The  university announced last  week that it is delaying the start of in-person classes at our Erie and Ruskin  campuses to Tuesday, Jan. 18. Any previously scheduled online courses will  begin as planned on Monday, Jan. 10. The university has also shifted formal  move-in to our residence halls by a week.

  This  announcement has resulted in some changes to our operations and schedule. We  would like to provide this updated guide from what was previously shared in  December to keep you informed of our newest framework for the upcoming spring  semester.

There are only a few weeks left in the semester and the time is now to plan a safe exit from campus and a healthy return in January for the spring semester. Our COVID-19 testing efforts can play a key foundation to that effort. 

As many at the university are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster, we have opened our vaccine submission portal to allow you to upload this most recent information to your health records. Gannon is not requiring the booster at this time, but we are highly encouraging it for those who are eligible to receive it.   

The Thanksgiving holiday break is Nov. 24-28, during which time there will be no classes. Employees will be off Nov. 25-26 and the university will be closed these days. This post includes adjusted hours and operations on behalf of our Ruskin Campus and various Erie campus departments for those who will remain on campus or might need access to campus resources during this timeframe. 

Masks will again be required for all of us inside all University facilities on both the Erie and Ruskin campuses beginning August 10 in recognition of climbing rates in our local communities. 

Masks will again be required for all of us inside all University facilities on both the Erie and Ruskin campuses beginning August 10 in recognition of climbing rates in our local communities. 

August has arrived and we are counting down the days until you arrive, too, Knights. With just a few weeks before the start of the semester, we are sharing important instructions for move-in and on-boarding procedures with you.

As you are preparing to start the fall semester as a new or continuing student in one of our recognized health professional programs on the Ruskin campus, we are urging you to please act now to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Beginning August 2, we will be transitioning the majority of us back to campus as we prepare for face-to-face instruction, in-person support of our offices and colleagues, and an exciting new academic year.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back in just a few short weeks for the 2021-2022 Academic year.

As valued members of our Gannon community, we are excited and grateful to welcome colleagues for the 2021-22 Academic Year and back in person after more than a year of remote work.

The University received $3.7 million from the federal government and is forwarding this support directly to students via direct deposit or check. The payments are expected to begin the week of Aug. 2. For eligible students to receive these funds via direct deposit, please ensure you are signed up for direct deposit by Sunday, July 25.

As we roll through summer, the university is busy adjusting our COVID-19 mitigation protocols and completing plans to return to an in-person academic year. We, like many of you, are looking forward to a more normal Gannon experience and are pleased to be coming back to be in community together on our Erie and Ruskin campuses. We hope these updates provide you guidance on what to expect upon your return this fall so that we may all enjoy our time together while remaining as healthy and safe as possible as the pandemic continues.

We are eager to welcome you back to campus in the fall and we understand many of you are eager to begin making plans for Move-In and Welcome Week. To aid in your planning, we would like to share a broad update regarding move-in for students who plan to live in Gannon-owned housing in the fall. A more detailed update with specific instructions will be shared prior to housing assignments that will be issued later this month. 

Masks are no longer required to be worn on Gannon University property on our Erie and Ruskin campuses effective immediately. This is yet another step toward a more normal experience on campus, and it follows the lifting of social distancing and on-campus gathering restrictions in late May.

We hope you are enjoying your summer vacation. We are busy at Gannon planning for your return this fall. As we do, we are aligning our university guidelines with Pennsylvania and Florida Departments of Health and CDC guidance, including guidance relative to vaccinated individuals.

Gannon University is adjusting its COVID-19 protocols and planning for face-to-face instruction at both of its campuses in summer and fall.

The CDC announced new, relaxed guidance that is a sharp reminder to us of the benefits of getting vaccinated.

We are making last-minute changes to our Ruskin Commencement given Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s executive order that lifted all remaining COVID-19 health restrictions.

As we enter finals week and prepare for the summer break, we have gathered the hours and operations for various campus services and resources that will be in effect for these timeframes.

As planning progresses for our Ruskin Commencement Ceremony, we would like to share the following updates with you.

The University has revised its travel policies for students and employees on our Erie and Ruskin campuses. The changes in the adjusted policy reflect CDC guidance issued regarding changes to domestic travel, as well as traveling after being fully vaccinated.

The University will offer voluntary COVID-19 testing from 8 to 11 a.m. on Monday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 27, for students and employees who would like to be tested prior to departing for the end of semester.

All Adults in Pennsylvania and Florida Are Eligible to Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

As planning progresses for our Erie Commencement Ceremonies in May, we would like to share updates with you.

Gannon University is grateful for the partnership with LECOM that brought several COVID-19 vaccine clinics to campus over the last several months. There have been more than 1,300 students and employees who have been vaccinated on our Erie and Ruskin campuses, and that number continues to increase daily.

To assist our campus communities in preparing for the Easter holiday and break April 2-5, we have gathered the adjusted hours and operations below on behalf of various Erie campus departments and services for those who will remain on campus or might need access to campus resources during this timeframe. There will be no classes during this time, and Gannon is providing employee holidays on April 2 and 5. The Ruskin Campus will be closed during this time.

Gannon University has received its allocation of CRRSAA funds for higher education emergency relief.

The University received $1.3 million from the federal government and is forwarding this support directly to students via direct deposit or check. The transfers are expected to begin Tuesday, March 30.

We would like to remind you of the changes to the academic calendar approaching in the weeks ahead. The schedule was intentionally adjusted to remove our typical spring and Easter breaks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on campus by discouraging travel outside our Gannon communities. These adjustments include:

We are six weeks into the semester and you are doing a great job with navigating the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape. With that evolving environment comes some changes to protocols and practices at our Erie and Ruskin campuses.

We have two important updates regarding the Gannon-based COVID-19 vaccine clinics through our partners at LECOM.

• The two Dose 2 clinics planned for March 9 and March 16 have been combined into one clinic on March 16.
• A new Dose 1 clinic for about 300 individuals is being planned for March 30 in Gannon’s Waldron Campus Center. The Dose 2 clinic for these individuals will be April 27 at Gannon.

We are revising travel policies for students, faculty and staff on our Erie and Ruskin campuses. The changes reflected in the new policy represent a significant loosening of our restrictions. Gannon’s travel policy is posted on update.gannon.edu.

We regret to inform you that we have a pair of disappointing announcements regarding the vaccine clinics planned at Gannon University’s Erie campus.

1. Due to the shortage of vaccines, the vaccination clinic planned for March 2 is canceled.
2. Future “Dose 1 clinics” planned for March 23 and beyond are suspended as our partners at LECOM and the Erie County Department of Health transition their vaccination program to the Bayfront Convention Center.

In response to new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are updating our guidance regarding vaccines, COVID-19 testing and quarantine.

We want to provide an update about Tuesday’s vaccine clinic, which we are operating with our partners at LECOM.

About 200 doses will be distributed Tuesday, from noon to about 3:30 p.m.

This message is to notify you that we have expanded our existing policy regarding quarantine and isolation pay to now include coverage for those receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

Last evening, we received news that our available vaccine allotment was reduced from 300 to 160. As we have noted in previous communications, this vaccination process is dynamic and subject to change. Our team is working diligently to reschedule individuals from the clinic on Feb. 9 to the clinic on Feb. 16.

Week two of classes is in the books and we are off to a great start. By now, many of you are diving into your courses, and starting projects and group work. Our student-athletes are practicing and competing. We are all beginning to shift into high-gear to get after what we hope to accomplish this spring.

As valued members of our Gannon community, we are excited and grateful to welcome you back for the spring semester from what we hope was a restful and invigorating winter break.

We have learned a great deal from the fall semester regarding the processes and protocols in place that allowed us to keep our campuses open and deliver on our promise of a valuable educational experience for our students. Because of this experience, we understand that the full commitment of every employee to maintain diligence in following these protocols will be critical to our success this the spring semester.

As a next step in our fight against COVID-19, Gannon University and LECOM have partnered to provide a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic that will be offered to the Gannon community beginning in February. Details of this clinic will be announced in the days ahead as planning progresses. 

As valued members at the heart of our Gannon community, we are excited and grateful to be welcoming you back on campus for classes for the spring semester.

We have learned a great deal from the fall semester regarding the processes and protocols in place that allowed us to remain on campus and in person to deliver your courses and Gannon experience. The full commitment of every student to maintain that same diligence in following these protocols throughout the spring semester will be critical to our success in keeping each other safe and healthy during the months ahead.

Our start today follows a busy week of onboarding that was full of testing and orientation at both campuses. By all reports, those processes seemed to run smoothly. In Erie, we administered nearly 2,000 tests from Saturday, Jan. 17, through Sunday, Jan. 24, primarily to athletes and students returning to our residence halls. Only four of those tested were confirmed positive. We have only two students in isolation on campus, thankfully with mild symptoms.

As you are busy enjoying the last days of the winter break and preparing for your return to campus, we would like to share the following instructions and reminders for those moving back into Gannon-owned properties.

We are broadening our policy regarding remote delivery to also offer this service to students who are diagnosed with a mental health/psychological condition that would likely be exacerbated by the need for he/she/them to be physically on campus during the pandemic.

To assist students and employees with preparing for their return throughout the next two weeks, we have gathered the hours and operations for various campus services and resources that are currently in effect and those that will go into place with the start of the semester on Jan. 25

Gannon’s COVID-19 testing program to on-board students and employees for the spring semester is in full swing. Below are friendly reminders from our previous communication regarding testing as we progress toward the first day of classes on Jan. 25.

We hope that you have had a restful holiday break. As we kick off 2021, we are busy preparing for the return of our students and employees for the start of the spring semester. As we shared in a communication prior to the break, we are taking many steps to do this as safely as possible, starting with a thorough COVID-19 testing plan for all students and employees.

The countdown is on. We are just over two weeks away from the first day of classes for the spring semester. We would like to remind you that all students and employees should resume completing their daily LiveSafe Wellness Checks beginning Monday, Jan. 11. 

We hope that you have had a restful holiday break. As we kick off 2021, we are busy preparing for your return for the spring semester. As we shared in a communication prior to the holiday break, we are taking many steps to do this as safely as possible, starting with a thorough COVID-19 testing plan for all students and employees.

As we continue to prepare for the resumption of face-to-face classes on Jan. 25, we also want to remind students that they have the ability to request remote delivery. However, the deadline to do so is fast approaching: It is Friday, Jan. 8.

Classes at both the Erie and Ruskin campuses will begin Jan. 25. We have, of course, established contingency plans should the situation in Florida or Pennsylvania necessitate a change, but we have a solid plan to return to campus for a face-to-face experience as we did successfully last semester.

Classes at both the Erie and Ruskin campuses will begin Jan. 25. We have, of course, established contingency plans should the situation in Florida or Pennsylvania necessitate a change, but we have a solid plan to return to campus for a face-to-face experience as we did successfully last semester.

Gannon University is altering some campus operations and changing our quarantine protocol in response to recent guidance and new orders from federal and state authorities.

As we venture home after the completion of the fall semester, we want to provide you with some guidance for what to do should you run into illness while away from us.  

A semester that began more than four months ago with many questions and more than a few anxieties is about to end. We believe it was a successful semester in spite of the challenges and we hope you agree.

Pennsylvania announced several new rules Tuesday related to COVID-19, which is surging across the state. Some of these rules – particularly the one involving travel – will have an immediate effect on your holiday plans and, eventually, could impact operations at Gannon University’s Erie campus.

In preparation for finals week we have made changes in the building hours. In addition, Gannon is providing additional voluntary testing for students prior to returning home through Passport Health located at 4204 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL.

To assist students and employees with preparing for the winter-mester and extended winter break, we have gathered the revised hours and operations for various campus services and resources that will go into effect throughout this timeframe. Please continue to monitor your email and update.gannon.edu throughout the break for any changes and for any additional information that may be shared.

As the semester quickly comes to a close within the next two weeks, we would like to share important updates regarding access to on-campus dining and meal options for finals week and over the extended winter break.

Gannon has created a “Winter-mester” available for students to enroll in and complete core classes online from Nov. 30 to Jan. 22.

Our Gannon Health and Counseling Center receives several questions each week regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19. These questions often involve a misunderstanding of what constitutes a “close contact,” said Brenda Boetger, CRNP, at the Health and Counseling Center. To dispel the confusion, Boetger provided the following explanations as well as some guidance for Gannon students regarding testing.

We will be starting the spring semester two weeks later than usual and taking a number of other steps to limit the risk of COVID-19 to the Gannon community.

Classes will resume at our Erie and Ruskin campuses on Jan. 25 instead of Jan. 10, as previously planned.

We are canceling this important event out of an abundance of caution for your health and to limit the risk to those currently on campus. We worked hard to have face-to-face classes this fall, and our students have been doing a tremendous job abiding by tight standards for behavior and limited social gatherings and their own travel. We do not want to risk upending those efforts by bringing several hundred of even our favorite visitors to campus from far away places.

Looking for a place to study, complete assignments or take a hy-flex course?

Here’s a list of spaces across campus that are available to you.

Seeing you back on campus is a healthy reminder that life can move forward in the middle of a pandemic. It is great to have you here.

But you – and we – need to remember that while things might seem familiar, there are safety measures that we must all follow so we can have classes on campus and stay in community together.

Here is an important reminder regarding visitors in our residence halls.

A busy week is underway at Gannon University. Move-in begins Tuesday morning and will stretch into the weekend. All freshmen have an assigned time that was sent to them by email in early July. Upperclassmen do not have assigned times.

A new school year is only a few days away. Final preparations are being made at both of our Erie and Ruskin campuses.

All current memberships are eligible for renewal as becomes necessary. However, new memberships and guest day passes will remain unavailable until further notice.

We’ve made modifications to our RWC operations and services that pertain to both our Gannon and non-Gannon community members who use the facility.

There are two significant changes we want you to know and understand as we are about to start a new school year: The traffic flow through this building will be entirely different, and seating capacity throughout the building has been redesigned to align with “Covid capacity” guidance.

Gannon University is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff. To facilitate an organized and controlled return to campus and resumption of face-to-face learning, we have implemented a number of policies and practices.

Gannon’s Bookstore has reopened with modified hours and operations to facilitate a safe and convenient way for students to purchase and pick up books in preparation for the start of the semester.

Gannon’s Recreation and Wellness Center will reopen Monday, July 27, as part of the university’s ongoing preparations to return to campus for the new semester.

All Gannon students, faculty and staff are welcome to use the RWC facilities. At this time, however, community members and other guests will not be permitted access to the building.

We continue to prepare for the reopening of campus and the resumption of large parts of our operation. To that end, we have updated a travel policy we issued in May, and we have created guidelines for how the Gannon University community will handle pay if staff or faculty must quarantine because of exposure to someone with COVID-19 or because a staff member or faculty member has developed COVID-19.

The safety of our student population begins before you even arrive on campus, based on the plan Gannon University has set in place. Here is how it will work:

Every student is encouraged to self-quarantine at home for the two weeks prior to their arrival on campus and MUST complete the LiveSafe COVID-19 questionnaire for the 14 days immediately prior to arrival – and each day thereafter. Students coming to Gannon from states identified as hotspots by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf must self-quarantine for two weeks prior to their arrival on campus. Self-quarantine in this context means staying at home, not having visitors, and staying at least 6 feet away from other people in your household.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has announced it will suspend all conference athletic events and championships through the fall semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was finalized by the league’s Board of Directors on Tuesday.

Visitors and guests are welcome to Gannon’s campus with preapproved appointments. Employees are responsible to ensure that their visitors and guests comply with CDC and campus guidelines.

We hope this latest update finds you healthy and safe. It will not be long now before most of us are back on campus together. Our first students and faculty have already resumed face-to-face instruction at our Ruskin campus, and employees in Erie are beginning to return to campus in a phased approach leading to the start of face-to-face instruction of most programs in Erie and Ruskin unless otherwise communicated or arranged on or before Aug. 10.

Reopening our university with consideration for the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our top priority. For this reason, we are creating a reopening plan that complies with the guidance of federal, state and local authorities.

The daily monitoring of our health is going to be an important part of our return to campus.

To assist with this, we have upgraded the services available through the LiveSafe app to include a daily COVID-19 survey that each of us will be required to complete prior to arriving on campus – or, if you live on campus, before going to class.

This has been a year unlike any other in higher education and our Gannon University community is about to be reunited but with another twist. We intend to open our Erie and Ruskin campuses earlier than usual – classes will start Aug. 10 for most students – so we can complete the semester before Thanksgiving.

Our announcement coincides with Florida moving to “Phase II” and in anticipation of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf upgrading Erie County’s status from “yellow” to “green” in coming days. “Phase II” and the “green” status permits the operating of institutions, businesses and universities like ours with fewer limitations than would be allowed in “yellow.”

Today marks Erie County’s launch into the yellow phase under Pennsylvania’s gradual loosening of restrictions that were set in place nearly two months ago to limit the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The only workers currently scheduled to come back to campus more regularly over the next couple of weeks will be maintenance, grounds and custodial employees. They will begin preparing the dorms and our other campus buildings for the return of the rest of us later this summer and for our students in August.

Gannon University has developed guidelines to maximize the safety of our employees, contractors and students. They are in compliance with orders issued by the states of Pennsylvania and Florida. These guidelines are applicable to all Gannon University employees (i.e. colleagues) and contractors. The guidelines are effective May 7, 2020, until further notice.

These are normally busy days across our campuses in Erie and Ruskin with finals and the approach of commencement. But these are not normal times. Instead, our beautiful campuses are largely empty and all of those exams and projects are being done remotely. Commencements for both campuses have been delayed until later in the year, when we hope the environment is more conducive to gather in larger numbers.

The spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has disrupted life across the world as well as the natural rhythms of Gannon University. Many have been asking and eagerly awaiting the University’s plans for opening our homes away from home. The emerging signs of transition and the intensive planning and preparations being done here at Gannon have led to this message of our intent to resume face-to-face classes in August.  

These are unprecedented times and some legislation passed recently that was designed to provide some financial assistance for families that are struggling. Please keep in mind, however, that the intention of the funds in your retirement account are for income replacement when you retire. Depleting your account could have a significant impact on your ability to retire when you would like to. As always, we recommend reaching out to your financial consultant to review your current situation – along with short- and long-term financial goals – before making any decisions.

Gannon University has just received its allocation of CARES Act funds and will begin distribution to students as early as this week. This money is in addition to Gannon University funds that are being distributed to support the needs of our students in this challenging time.

Gannon University will honor its graduating Class of 2020 with a conferral of degrees at a special, first-ever virtual event at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2020. This degree conferral celebration is in advance of the University’s in-person commencement ceremonies, which were rescheduled for Aug. 30 for our Ruskin campus and for Oct. 4 for our Erie campus.

Visit www.gannon.edu on May 9 to join in the celebration. It will also be on Facebook Live.

Previously we communicated a commencement date of Saturday, Aug. 29. However, the date for the Ruskin commencement ceremony is being rescheduled to Sunday, Aug. 30.

As we all prepare for Easter break, we thought this would be a good moment to reflect on the great number of changes that have happened at Gannon in the past six weeks and give you a brief state of the University. The adjustments the University and each of us, individually, have had to make have been monumental. The speed and scale of our collective response to the threat of COVID-19 is unprecedented, and deeply appreciated.

As Gannon’s virtual education and working from home continues, we’d like to share a few technology resources and reminders with you.

Gannon University has adopted a temporary change in the Pass/Fail policy for Spring 2020. You must complete a digital form for each course that you want to complete with a Pass/Fail grade.

As the University continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that will continue to keep our students, faculty and staff as safe and healthy as possible, we are working together in making a series of important decisions. Please know that we are not taking these decisions lightly during this time as the situation continues to rapidly change each day. Each decision is made in the best interest of your well-being.

We continue to share regular updates focused on actions and decisions of the day, topics regarding questions we are hearing from you, and efforts to stay connected and let you know we are here and thinking about your work and learning. This latest update is related to credits to your financial account and/or refunds for housing and meal plans, and pay for student workers.

The recent extension of social distancing guidelines to April 30 and the prospect that they might continue into May has lead us to make a change to our summer classes.

Gannon University has adopted a temporary Pass/Fail grading option for Spring 2020 undergraduate courses transitioned to remote instruction, effective immediately.

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We continue to try and share regular updates focused on actions and decisions of the day, topics regarding questions we are hearing from you about, and efforts to stay connected and let you know we are here and thinking about your work and learning. This latest is related to travel activities that were planned for the remainder of the academic year and summer.

Things are calm and quiet across campus today, but we know that is not a reflection of all that is happening around us.

Gannon University, in accordance with directives issued by Gov. Tom Wolf late Thursday, is taking additional steps to restrict operations across its Erie campus. The focus going forward will be serving the needs of the students who remain in our residence halls who have no other housing option and supporting the launch of classes via alternative teaching methods beginning Monday, March 23.

Gannon University’s Recreation and Wellness Center and the Nash Library will be closed tonight and will remain closed until further notice to stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The first positive COVID-19 case has been reported in Erie County, according to the Erie County Department of Health, which held a news conference today. At this time, there are no known cases on Gannon’s Erie or Ruskin campuses.

We will be closing our Erie and Ruskin campuses by the end of today with the exception of essential services and staff. Alternative delivery of courses begins Monday, March 23.

Gannon University’s Erie and Ruskin campuses will be closed by end of the day Tuesday, March 17 with the exception of essential services and staff. Alternative delivery of courses will continue as planned on Monday, March 23 as well as the support of transition of students planning to move off campus this week through March 22. All staff and administration are expected to report to work tomorrow – Tuesday, March 17 -- and then will be expected to work from home going forward until further notice. Supervisors will meet with employees tomorrow morning to determine the personnel required to report to work on campus to provide essential services after that date.

I am writing today to detail the latest decisions for the Gannon community in response to the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. We continue in confidence that our campus environment is currently healthy and safe. In light of the many new realities in communities surrounding our campuses, Gannon University’s Erie and Ruskin campuses will transition to alternative instructional delivery methods yet remain open to offer support.

In light of the ongoing developments regarding COVID-19, the Gannon University Athletics Department announced Friday morning that all athletics competitions have been canceled for the remainder of the spring semester effective immediately. The announcement came in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's decision that all PSAC athletic competition for the remainder of the spring semester has been canceled, effective immediately.

NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled all winter and spring NCAA Division II championships effective immediately. "This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities," indicated Emmert via e-mail.

Students and employees who have a health condition that puts them at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19 or who have unique circumstances should consult with Gannon's Health Center regarding how to minimize their risk. An example of a unique circumstance is a person who is a caregiver for an immunosuppressed family member.

COVID-19 is on everyone's mind and I want to take this moment to provide some updates on what we have been and are doing and to provide reassurance that Gannon University is taking all necessary steps and will remain open.

As the University continues to monitor developments regarding the coronavirus, we would like to share the following reminders and updates with the Gannon community.

As we continue to monitor developments regarding the coronavirus, Gannon University has decided to implement updated procedures for students, faculty and staff who have traveled to locations with a health notice of level three or higher according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Florida Department of Health, two cases of coronavirus have now been reported in Florida in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. Although these cases are not connected to our Gannon campuses, we want to update the University on the development in this location. At this time, there are no cases at our Ruskin, Florida or Erie campuses.

In an effort to keep you updated in regard to the coronavirus and our Gannon community members traveling for spring break and currently studying abroad, we would like to share recent developments with you.

As you prepare for spring break next week (March 1-8), we want to underline that our primary concern is your safety and well-being while you are away from campus.

We are closely monitoring the outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, recognizing our mission as a globally inclusive university that seeks to ensure the wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff - especially those who are arriving from or are traveling abroad. We are aware of the exposure risks, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and are implementing procedures and protocols in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.