COVID-19: Coronavirus Updates
Updated May 29, 2020
St. Louis Campus
Saint Louis University is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. The University continues to follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as state and local health officials.
Earlier Start to Fall 2020 Semester
After extensive discussions and diligent review of local and national public health guidance, SLU has decided to begin undergraduate classes on Monday, Aug. 17, rather than the currently scheduled Aug. 26 start. Starting early will allow more in-person instruction before a potential resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The University is considering two alternatives regarding final exams and expects to decide in the coming weeks. To accommodate the required number of class days, SLU is condensing the regularly scheduled fall break to a single day in October. That date has yet to be determined. SLU is working to address details related to these decisions and plans to communicate more soon.
President Pestello's May 26 Update
Returning to Work
SLU is preparing plans to slowly and deliberately reopen the campus for work. Employees who have been working remotely should continue to do so until they hear otherwise from their supervisor. The University is putting critical public health protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of employees when they do return to campus. This includes units and divisions providing cloth face masks to their essential, non-clinical staff, as well as installing around 800 touchless hand sanitizer dispensers throughout campus.
Guidance as Some Return to Campus
Financial Assistance for Students
SLU connected more than 5,000 SLU students in need with about $2.8 million in aid, including $2.57 million in CARES Act funding. Recognizing that families’ financial need will likely grow ahead of the fall semester, SLU has developed a new Special Circumstances Relief Application. New and returning students who have experienced loss of income or other special circumstances that affect their ability to afford your educational expenses for the 2020-21 academic are encouraged to apply.
Learn more about the Special Circumstances Relief Application
Test-Optional Admission
SLU is mindful that the fall 2021 class is challenged by test date cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it impractical to require scores. For students applying for the fall 2021 semester, SLU will not require ACT or SAT scores for freshman or transfer applicants, and will not require the GRE or GMAT for most graduate programs. Due to accreditation requirements, law, medicine and a few other graduate and professional programs will still require pre-admission tests. And English proficiency tests will still be required for international students.
Summer Courses and Camps
Summer 2020 courses will move to online delivery – with some exceptions. Additionally, SLU’s K-12 camps/academies, athletic camps, pre-college, access and TRIO programs, and our international immersion programs are also all canceled at least through June.
Summer 2020 Courses and Camps Information
SLU-Madrid
Faculty and staff continue to work and serve our students remotely. For fall 2020, SLU-Madrid plans to resume in-person classes on campus, following an adjusted hybrid academic calendar. Faculty are also developing online (asynchronous) alternatives for new and continuing students who may not return to campus due to travel restrictions or health concerns.
SLUCare
In recent months, SLUCare moved appointments and shifted to new forms of care, like virtual visits and telemedicine. Now, the practice is beginning to see more patients in office, and has made changes to ensure everyone's health and safety. SLUCare is closely following the latest guidance from the CDC, state and local health departments, SLU’s School of Medicine, and the University’s infectious disease experts.