The NCAA, Centennial Conference, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health—along with other local and national agencies—continue to evolve recommendations on athletic competition as the broad impact of the COVID-19 pandemic changes day-to-day. Please continue checking the Ursinus College website and athletics FAQs for updates.
Competitions
The Centennial Conference has suspended all athletic competitions for the fall semester. This includes competitions for all Ursinus teams.
We will learn more this fall and will share updates as soon as possible.
Practices, Training, Team Activities
No, student-athletes will return to campus with all students following the phased return plan.
We plan to provide opportunities during the fall semester for all of our student-athletes to work with their coaches on an optional basis. Coaches will offer team practices as well as small group skill sessions and strength & conditioning sessions that are optional for all student-athletes throughout the fall semester.
Teams will have a five week period during which they may hold up to three team practices per week. These weeks will vary per sport and head coaches will communicate this information to teams. Small group skill sessions and strength & conditioning sessions may occur outside of this five week period.
All participants in athletic sessions will wear masks and maintain social distance and also be screened prior to each session to ensure they are not experiencing any Covid 19 symptoms.
Athletics facilities are open for use. Any use of these spaces must follow the guidelines of each campus phase as well as all posted signage. Additional guidelines for specific facilities must also be followed:
Team meetings will be held virtually until further notice. Individual meetings should be held virtually as much as possible. If an in-person meeting is necessary, meetings must be scheduled in advance and by appointment only. Student-athletes should not come to coaches’ row or other athletics facilities without an appointment. Meetings will be held outdoors or in large spaces and participants will wear face coverings and maintain physical distancing.
Yes, student-athletes should complete and submit their PPE forms online and must be cleared through the physical process with athletic trainers prior to any participation. Sports Medicine staff is communicating directly with coaches and student-athletes regarding this process.
Student-athletes will have limited access to athletic training services and should communicate directly with their coach and athletic trainer regarding their needs.
Yes. As outlined in the NCAA Resocialization of Sport document, specific underlying medical conditions such as moderate to severe asthma, immunocompromised status, severe obesity, diabetes or additional heart, lung, kidney or liver disease have all been identified as conditions that may place an individual into a higher-risk category. It is recommended that individuals with increased risk factors refrain from participation in the early stages of organized athletic activity. The presence of increased risk factors may require additional documentation from your primary physician, and all final participation clearances are at the discretion of the health care providers at the college.
The NCAA approved a blanket waiver for student-athletes in all sports for the 2020-21 academic year:
Those student-athletes whose teams complete 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests/dates of competition during the 2020-21 season due to ongoing impact from COVID-19 will receive a season-of-participation waiver while eligible. Student-athletes may receive a two-semester/three-quarter extension of eligibility if the following conditions are met:
The student-athlete was unable to participate in their sport during the 2020-21 academic year due to COVID-19, or the student-athlete’s teams completed 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests/dates of competition during the 2020-21 season due to the ongoing impact from COVID-19.
The student-athlete was otherwise eligible for competition during the 2020-21 academic year.
Each student, and family, will need to consider their options and communicate with their academic advisor regarding specific situations.
A student’s standing on the team will be unaffected. Each student is encouraged to make the best decision for themselves and their families. Coaches, the athletic department and Ursinus College will support student decisions and work with them to effectively manage their choices.
Yes. The college issues diplomas twice per year, in May and October. So, a student who completes all requirements in December at the end of a fall semester will get their diploma in May, but the college can certify before then (to employers and grad schools) that the student has completed all requirements for graduation.
Students who skip the fall semester and return in the spring should pay special attention to when specific courses are taught. Some courses are only taught once per year in a specific semester. Consider one example: PHYS-111 (General Physics I) is only taught in the fall semester; if the student needs that course as a pre-requisite for another course, skipping the fall semester may slow down overall academic progress.
Whether this is possible depends on the specific courses a student needs to finish. For instance, if the courses are introductory or core-curriculum courses, it’s usually easy to find a version of those courses at another college or university. But instead, if the courses are advanced courses in the major or capstone courses, they may not exist at another college or university. The student’s academic adviser in the major can address questions about specific courses.
Institutional aid is available for eight semesters as long as students meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (information regarding this can be found at https://www.ursinus.edu/live/files/3056-ursinus-college-sap-policy-final-05062019.pdf). All merit aid will remain for the following semester or year if a student chooses to defer (except for specialty scholarships). Individual concerns or special circumstances should be discussed with the Office for Student Financial Services.
Any students who have a vacancy in their room or suite will be contacted by residence life to fill that space. Particularly in suites, we want the students living there to choose who they would like to pull in.
We guarantee housing for all students, so whether students choose to return in Spring 2021 or after a year off, we will work with you to find a housing assignment once you have been reinstated as a student at the college.
Yes. Your coach, and/or Associate Athletic Director Marqus Hunter, will assist you with the transferring process.