For Our Students

Coronavirus Information

Latest Updates

CARES Act Emergency Grants

The purpose of this funding is to assist students who have experienced unanticipated expenses as a result of the pandemic. The amount of HEERF funding that institutions receive is primarily based on the number of high-need students enrolled.

Learn More

Student Emergency Fund Application Available

The Student Emergency Fund (SEF) provides limited, one-time financial assistance when students are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a temporary emergency. Given the limited amount of funds, not all requests can be approved even though there may be a clear need for assistance. Situations that are longer-term or require more substantial funding—such as the loss of a job, reoccurring rent or utility payments, larger medical expenses, etc.—will be referred to the Financial Aid Office for a more in-depth review of possible funding options.

Emergency Fund Request Form

Online Advising

The Center for Academic Advising & Retention (CAAR), Running Start, and the School of Global Learning are offering only online advising appointments at this time. Appointments can be scheduled online:

EWU Libraries and Learning Commons: Wherever You Are

While the JFK Library building at Eastern Washington University is closed for spring quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many library and Learning Commons services are in operation online.

Learn about available services

Financial Aid & Tuition

Grading, Classes & Academics

Housing & Residential Life

Student Life & Events

International Students

Future Student Assistance

Financial Aid & Tuition

NOTE: Emerging economic changes will be taken into consideration for spring and fall 2020 financial aid decisions.

Work Study
Depending on staffing levels across campus, offices may need to scale their student workforce appropriately, which could impact Work Study opportunities. Please check with your supervisor for more information.

Quarter Students
We are expecting minimal impact for students enrolled in spring quarter. Awards will not be reduced for students who forego their spring quarter housing contract and choose to live off-campus or at home.

Semester Students
For students enrolled in semester programs, there are no expected changes in current financial aid awards, unless students change their on-campus living status or have their Work Study impacted.

Graduate Students
In the event that a graduate student is not teaching a course, conducting research, or working on campus as part of their graduate assistantship, their compensation may be impacted.

Accelerated Online Programs
We are not expecting any impact on our accelerated online MBA or MEd programs.

CARES Act Emergency Grants may assist students who have experienced unanticipated expenses as a result of the pandemic. The amount of HEERF funding that institutions receive is primarily based on the number of high-need students enrolled.

Learn More

The Student Emergency Fund (SEF) provides limited, one-time financial assistance when students are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a temporary emergency. Given the limited amount of funds, not all requests can be approved even though there may be a clear need for assistance. Situations that are longer-term or require more substantial funding—such as the loss of a job, reoccurring rent or utility payments, larger medical expenses, etc.—will be referred to the Financial Aid Office for a more in-depth review of possible funding options.

EMERGENCY FUND REQUEST FORM

EWU departments may continue to employ and pay Work Study students as long as they are enrolled for spring quarter. Students should work with their supervisors to determine if they can continue to work on campus or to determine if their positions can be adapted, which may include telework arrangements.

If a department cannot make adaptations, it can instead arrange for work-related professional development activities that the student can do from home, or consult with the Student Employment Office regarding any additional options.

Please note that this guidance applies only to federal and state Work Study and not to student workers paid through institutional funds.

All EWU programs have been approved by the State Approving Authority for delivery through online modality, meaning all spring courses will be covered by the GI Bill.

The VRC staff is now certifying VA Education Benefits for spring quarter. We request that all students using VA Education Benefits for spring quarter electronically submit their updated concise student schedules. Please see the VRC website for instructions.

There are no changes to tuition and fees for winter terms.

While there are no changes to tuition for spring term, there are some fee adjustments:

  • S&A Fees: S&A Fees are tied to tuition. While we will be adjusting in-person events and activities for spring and cancelling events with more than 25 people, we will be providing remote and online engagement opportunities and continuing to support clubs and organizations. Students who pay tuition to continue in the spring will be supporting the university through the S&A fee.
  • Transportation Fee: While we recognize that a number of students may choose to take classes fully online, the transportation fee supports STA ridership. With the majority of our students residing in the greater-Spokane area, we will continue to assess this fee to support ridership through spring.
  • PUB Fee: Students voted to approve this mandatory fee and it cannot be legally waived.
  • URC/Rec Fee: Students voted to approve this mandatory fee and it cannot be legally waived.
  • Online Delivery Fees: All online delivery fees for classes will be waived for spring.
  • Lab and Course Fees: These will continue to be assessed.
  • Tech Fee: This fee is mandatory and necessary to provide the online support students require. The institution is not considering increasing this fee at this time.
  • Health Fee: In addition to supporting MultiCare health services for students, the comprehensive health-fee supports a number of student services including, but not limited to, Counseling Services (CAPS) and Student Care Services. We are working diligently to provide online support for these services and for spring. This fee will remain in place for students who move fully online. Please be on the lookout for information on how to access these services.

Grading, Classes & Academic Resources

As of Friday, March 20, all face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the academic year has been suspended. This includes all internships, labs and practica that require face-to-face contact. Students may still enroll for course credits if their work in these programs can be completed in a non-face-to-face format. Please reach out to your department chair or program director for further guidance.

The university does not have plans to bring online classes back to a face-to-face format during spring quarter.

Computer Access

As funding permits, students may be able to adjust financial aid awards to reflect the need for a computer.

The Laptop Kiosk (now located on the second floor) and the Print/Scan Station in the PUB is open with reduced hours coinciding with the building. The PUB Technology Center is closed. Other computer labs will be open as long as the buildings in which they reside are open (most buildings other than the PUB are closed to the public until the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive is lifted).

Internet Access

EWU is offering Wi-Fi coverage in several campus parking lots in an effort to provide students and employees with internet access from the safety of their own vehicles. The temporary access is now available in these Cheney campus parking lots: Roos Field parking lot, Hargreaves-Isle parking lots, Showalter parking lot, Visitor Center parking lot and Sutton-Martin parking lot. Learn More

eduroam is a consortium that EWU belongs to which allows students, faculty and staff to access the internet across member networks with their EWU credentials. There are numerous available locations, including options on the north side of Spokane, downtown Spokane, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

Other options:
  • Xfinity Internet Essentials – Internet Essentials is a program for those who currently do not have internet access at home. New customers will receive two months of free service in response to the Coronavirus emergency. Please note that some students have reported difficulty with the online application. If you experience these difficulties, you should contact Xfinity customer service representative to see if Internet Essentials is available in your area and if you qualify.
  • Spectrum Charter offers free internet for up to 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have broadband service. Installation fees may be waived for new student households. For more information and to enroll, call 844.488.8695.
  • Some mobile data plans allow you to tether your phone to your computer as an internet hotspot. Several telecom providers have suspended cell phone hot spot limits, which could make this a more feasible option. Check with your provider to determine whether this is a possibility based on your account.

The Center for Academic Advising and Retention (CAAR) is offering Zoom-only advising appointments. Students can schedule an appointment by visiting the CAAR website or by calling 509.359.2345.

The School of Global Learning has also moved to online advising. Students can schedule appointments using our online service or by visiting the School of Global Learning website.

Running Start is also offering online advising. Students can schedule appointments using our online service.

Beginning April 13, all PLUS services will be offered in an online format. EWU students will work with their tutor and/or academic coach remotely. PLUS will be offering academic coaching through one-to-one appointments using Zoom, and all study groups and small group tutoring will move to a drop-in online format through Zoom. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer traditional PLUS study groups this spring; however, the online drop-in format will provide assistance in many courses offered this spring.

Please visit the EWU Online Test Proctoring resource page for more information.

Classes will be entirely online for the first summer session (which starts June 22). We’re hopeful that it might be possible to allow limited options for face-to-face offerings during the second summer session (which starts July 20). If the public health situation allows for safely offering some classes, these would remain limited to labs and practicum courses that cannot be taught online for reasons of licensure or program accreditation.

Allowing even a limited number of specific courses will be decided only if we can continue to keep our students, faculty, staff, and communities safe. We will follow guidelines from public health officials or the Governor as we plan for summer 2020 and for fall 2020.

To help support our students in response to the coronavirus challenge, Academic Affairs will be implementing a new grade option: XC. This grade, while similar to an “incomplete” grade, is intended for student issues related to COVID-19 and its impact on learning and course and test delivery.

The XC grade indicates that the student is passing a specific course and will receive credit for it, but a final grade has not been determined because the student has some coursework to complete or to redo. Unlike a traditional incomplete (X) grade, the XC grade will meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement for Federal Financial Aid.

If you have concerns regarding your grade, please contact your faculty member. If you have additional concerns, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs.

Housing & Residential Life

As the pandemic has continued to evolve we have also evaluated all university operations. We are providing limited housing and dining options to those students who need a safe place to stay, and strongly recommend students consult with their parents and families to determine where they should live. Housing and Residential Life is committed to providing those students who need to stay on campus with as much support as possible, given the circumstances.

In order to comply with continued restrictions and emergency declarations we will be changing our interaction model to practice social distancing:

  • Our expectation is that residents will spend most of their time in their room.
  • There will be no socializing in lounges and common areas. Staff may split up groups and send residents back to their rooms for your health and safety.
  • The hall offices will be open limited hours for the purpose of sorting mail. We will not be checking items out from the office.
  • We will provide some virtual programs for social engagement but there will be no in-person events.
  • We will continue to support students as we are able via technology such as zoom meetings, phone calls, and emails.
  • Dining options will primarily be limited to take out options for meals. However, there will be increased Flex Dollars ($250) to provide community options. To learn more about Spring dining plans visit our student information section of the EWU Coronavirus FAQ site.

In the event of a change in circumstances, Housing and Residential Life will communicate with you via your Eagles email and an update to the campus COVID-19 webpage.

To help ensure the safety of our residents, the university has decided to place all residents in their own single room at no additional cost as part of the university’s ongoing efforts to protect the health of our students. All residents will be charged the lower double room rate ($2,368) plus the cost of the meal plan they have selected. We will be consolidating our residents to two halls; those halls will be announced early next week.

Yes. Your access card will continue to work for your building until you check out.

Students taking their classes online will not be required to live on campus spring quarter. Residents who need a safe place to stay are welcome to stay on campus. We strongly recommend students consult with their families to determine where they should live.

All remaining winter quarter balances are rolling to spring for use, and will then continue to roll forward to fall quarter. If you move out, your meal plan will be canceled and charges will be reversed.

In an effort to offer increased meal plan flexibility, Dining Services is making the following adjustments:

  1. Spring Quarter Meal Plans will see an increased level of Flex Dollars ($250) and a reduced number of Ala Carte points (25,000). This will provide increased access to the following off-campus merchants:
    • Barrel House Pizza
    • Domino’s Pizza
    • El Rodeo
    • Froyo Earth
    • Jimmy John’s
    • Owl Pharmacy
    • Mason Jar
    • Mitchell’s Harvest Foods
    • Rosa’s Pizza
    • Subway
    • Yoke’s Food
    • Zip’s
  2. All Dining Meal Plans will remain active through the end of the academic year. Carry-over points from winter quarter will be available to the student.
  3. In the event that you will not be able to use any of your carry-over points, or that you have a point balance at the end of the academic year, Dining Services will transfer your remaining point balance to “Undiscounted Ala Carte Points” for Fall Quarter 2020.

We will better define operations and hours of service as the current situation continues to evolve.

If you want to live off campus with your family spring quarter while you take classes please complete a Housing Exception Request form, enter Spring 2020 as the “Quarter Starting at EWU” and choose the option that you will be living with parents.

EWU Housing will not be charging the $150 cancelation/processing fees for students moving out for spring quarter.

Room and board charges will go onto accounts Tuesday, March 24 for students who have not turned in their keys and checked out.

Students who are not occupying their room, but who have not turned in their keys and still have belongings in their room, will see spring quarter charges loaded onto their account. Upon checkout, spring quarter charges will be reversed.

Students who intend to live on campus spring quarter, and subsequently change their mind and move out, will incur termination penalties outlined in the Housing and Dining contract.

In light of the “stay at home” order issued by the Governor, an exact date is unknown at this time. Therefore, we have determined that students will have up to seven (7) days after the order is lifted to remove all belongings. Once the order has been lifted we will send another update with the specific date.

You will have access to the halls and will be able to complete an express checkout at any time, however, we encourage people to honor the “stay at home” order, as well as public health guidelines, such as staying home if you do not feel well.

Spring quarter charges will be applied to your account if you have not checked out of your room. As soon as you retrieve your belongings, within seven (7) days after the “stay at home” order is lifted and check out, those charges will be reversed.

If you receive a late fee because you knew you were moving out and didn’t want to pay housing charges, we will reverse any late fees you incur as a result of housing and dining charges on your account.

As of March 12, U-Haul is now offering 30 days of free self-storage amid Coronavirus outbreak. Learn More

Other providers may also have special offers available. 

Moving companies who can help you pack and ship belongings include:

You may have a friend or family member move your things out. Prior to their arrival, you need to send an email to housing@ewu.edu with your Name, EWU ID, Room #, and your friend/family member’s name. They should dial the on-call number for your building when they arrive and a staff member will help them get access to your room.

Please mail your keys with your name, EWUID and room number in a padded envelope to:

EWU Housing
1027 Cedar Street, Suite 104
Cheney, WA 99004

Contact the EWU Housing Office at 509.359.2451 or email housing@ewu.edu to make a plan to retrieve your belongings.

If you will not be able to return to campus prior to April 13, we are requesting you work with a friend or a moving company to get your items packed and shipped. We do not have the capacity to pack, store or ship items for students. However, we are happy to coordinate with a service you hire, or a friend willing to help you, to get into your room. Companies who can provide this service include:

Social distancing is a means of slowing the spread of infectious disease by reducing close contact between people. The best way to practice social distancing is to stay in your room as much as possible – no hanging out in lounges or other common areas.

When you do go out, stay six (6) feet from other people at all times. Wash your hands every time you leave/enter your room, a bathroom, or any other space where you’ve been in contact with surfaces that may have been exposed.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. However, we recognize that this can be a lonely process. EWU Housing staff will be doing their best to provide opportunities for you to engage with others on different platforms online and over the phone. We also have staff available who can talk if you are feeling lonely or have any concerns. Call your residence hall’s on-call phone number if you want to connect with staff for any reason!

If you have any questions, do not go to your CA’s door. Get those questions answered via text, a phone call or email.

If you’re not feeling well for any reason, here are some key steps:

  1. Self-isolate in your room.
  2. Do not go to your CA’s door or the front desk with questions. Communicate via text, phone or email.
  3. Call MultiCare Rockwood at 509.235.6151 before seeking treatment at the clinic. Health professionals there will assess your symptoms over the phone. The clinic is also currently offering free e-visits to anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms through MultiCare Virtual Care to help you navigate the options, though wait times may be up to 24 hours. Use promo code “COVID19” at the payment page to unlock the free e-visit after completing their protocol.
  4. Immediately contact your hall’s on-call phone number to let them know MultiCare Rockwood’s recommendations. Our staff will be able to help support and provide important updates to campus leaders.

Student Life & Events

Social distancing strategies can take a toll on our physical health, social connections, and personal wellbeing. Here are our top five strategies, with helpful apps, to overcome these challenges and bring back control to your life.

1. Build a routine. Develop recurring to-do lists that lead to healthy habits. Be sure to include regular sleep times, targeting 7-9 hours each day. This will ensure you have the energy and focus you need to be active throughout the day.

Recommended app: Productive. Productive will coach you through small steps towards healthy habits. You can track good habits like flossing, eating healthy foods, and performing yoga.

2. Maintain a balanced diet. Fuel your body with the things you need to stay focused on school and more active during your free time. If nutrition is something you’ve struggled with, EWU’s Dining Services can help. Contact Natalie Stine at nstine@ewu.edu.

Recommended app: MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal allows you to record the food you eat each day, tracking micro and macronutrients. This app also allows you to see your calorie intake and compare it against your energy output for the day.

3. Dedicate time and space. Designate different spaces in your home where you work, exercise, eat, and sleep. Do the same with your daily schedule: identify and protect your times for work, play, and exercise (aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week).

Recommended app: Outlook. Outlook enables you to keep tabs on your school and personal email while also managing your personal schedule.

4. Engage with supportive communities. Active lifestyles are easier to maintain when you are a part of a supportive community. Keep in touch with your communities by following #EaglesOutside on social media or simply calling a friend to talk while taking a walking break outside.

Recommended app: Strava. Strava allows you to follow people in your local community and participate in various challenges. Check out the Eastern Washington University club on Strava to see other members of the EWU community who choose to be active.

5. Embrace the virtual. Several health and fitness companies have stepped up to help support active lifestyles through virtual platforms. Many of these platforms are specifically for college students. Below is a list of resources that can ease your transition into a “Stay Home, Stay Active” lifestyle.

Recommended apps:

Contact Chris Hoppe, Associate Director of Campus Recreation, at 509.359.7394 for more information. The Campus Recreation team is here for you through this challenging period.

SAIL has planned out a whole calendar of virtual events and other fun, safe activities to keep you entertained!

In-person campus events will be canceled in accordance with the governor’s directive. EWU is continuing to follow directives from public health and state officials regarding large events. 

All in-person spring commencement ceremonies have been canceled. This decision was not made lightly and we know many students and their families are looking forward to this important event. Learn more about virtual celebrations.

EWU is following all guidance and directives from the NCAA and Big Sky Conference. Currently, all NCAA Winter and Spring Championships are canceled. NCAA recruiting is suspended until April 15. Big Sky Conference competitions are suspended until April 15. Eagle Athletics practices are suspended until further notice.

Intramural and club sports are suspended until April 27, although some options that can follow social distancing measures may be available, such as e-sports. 

We are working to move all elections online and make adjustments to campaign rules. We will allow students to continue to run for office.

Due to the concerns with spreading the COVID-19 virus, the SAIL office is strongly discouraging any student organization (including sororities and fraternities) from hosting events off-campus. However, if an organization still chooses to host the event, they are expected to follow normal event register protocols for their event. Failure to follow the event registration process may result in further disciplinary review by the Student Rights and Responsibilities office. It should also be noted that many of the sorority and fraternity national headquarters have either banned or are discouraging their members from hosting events during this time.

We understand that the current COVID-19 pandemic is creating significant financial difficulties for individuals. There are a number of resources at EWU and in the Spokane community that may be of assistance to you during this difficult time:

Unemployment
If you were laid off, placed on standby status, or terminated from a job, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. For information about eligibility for unemployment benefits and instructions on how to file a claim, go to esd.wa.gov/unemployment.

Food Insecurity
EWU’s Food Pantry Program is still available to all members of the EWU community. For information about the Food Pantry Program, including how to access these services during break, visit the food pantry website.

Second Harvest Food Bank is still operating and offering food assistance. For information about where to access these resources, visit the Second Harvest website.

Housing Assistance
The Governor of the State of Washington has declared a 30-day moratorium on all residential evictions for non-payment of rent or for termination of a month-to-month tenancy. You can find information about this moratorium as well as some of the other recent changes to laws about health care, mortgages, and court hearings on the Washington Law Help website.

SNAP is a community resource that provides housing assistance to people in need. Information about the services offered by SNAP is available at snapwa.org/live.

If you are a student and need housing on campus, you can contact Housing & Residential Life at ewu.edu/housing.

Student Care Team
EWU’s Student Care Team is here for you, even if they cannot meet in person. If you are a student and have concerns about your well-being or need assistance in locating community resources, information about the Student Care Team is available on the Student Care Team website.

Campus Services Virtual Events

International Students

International students in F and J status are permitted to take online-only courses at this time. Please enroll full time for spring quarter (12 credits undergraduate, 8 credits graduate.) Your Immigration Advisor/DSO will document your full-time status based on the number of credits you are taking.

If you plan to take your classes inside the U.S. you will need to maintain a valid address. You must update your address within 10 days of the change by updating your “mailing/current” address in EagleNET.

Please contact your Immigration Advisor/DSO right away if you:

  • Plan to be less than full-time for spring quarter,
  • Plan to take your online courses outside of the U.S.,
  • Will be graduating at the end of Winter term and need travel advice,
  • Or have any other questions or concerns about how these updates will affect you, your travel plans, and/or your immigration record.

For students on the Cheney or Spokane campus

For students on the Bellevue or North Seattle campus

Depending on where you are in your studies, you will have different options. Make an appointment to speak with your Immigration Advisor to go through your specific situation. Call 509.359.2331 or email global@ewu.edu to make an appointment.

Email global@ewu.edu to let your Immigration Advisor know that you may not be able to return for classes in the spring.

Continue to monitor the situation until we are closer to spring quarter. EWU is monitoring updates from the U.S. government to see if there will be exceptions or accommodations for students needing to return for studies.

Continue to monitor your government travel warnings and advisories as well as the U.S. State Department and CDC warnings as we get closer to the start of the fall term. Please note that due to the evolving nature fo the coronavirus outbreak there may be travel limitations. The School of Global Learning is monitoring the situation and will reach out to you with updates about fall quarter orientation. If you have questions, please email global@ewu.edu.

Contact your Immigration Advisor at global@ewu.edu. You may be eligible for an extension or other options for remaining in the U.S. legally. We will assist you with housing options if needed.

Feedback, Questions & Reporting

All members of the university community should report positive COVID-19 diagnoses or share their concerns and questions using the form below.

Give Feedback or Report a Case

Picture: Top of Showalter Hall

EWU Health, Wellness & Prevention Services

201 URC – Cheney, WA 99004
Phone: 509.359.4279
Email: stuhealth@ewu.edu
Website: ewu.edu/bewell

We are your source for health and wellbeing information on campus. Our mission is to support and empower student wellbeing, growth and development through education, information and positive role-modeling. Successful achievement of this commitment is enhanced through collaboration with our campus and surrounding communities.

Text: Questions about COVID-19? Call the WA State Dept of Health: 1.800.525.0127 and press # or visit srhd.org/covid19