COVID-19 Academic Accommodation Relief

Bay State College continues to monitor developments regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Please be assured that Bay State College is focused on maintaining the safety of students, faculty, and staff, along with the permanence of our academic and business operations.

Due to the rapidly evolving nature of this public health situation necessitates frequent assessment, evaluation, and modification of our policies and plans. Bay State College recognizes the added stress and anxiety that the COVID-19 pandemic presents in our students’ lives, the following COVID-19 Academic Accommodation Relief is being offered to students taking courses in the Spring 2020 through Spring 2021. The following options are currently available on a case-by-case basis, which students and/or their families have been affected by COVID-19 can benefit by these temporary accommodations and have completed the required Student Declaration Form. *Military students called to active duty due to COVID-19 are applicable.

Please contact your Instructor/Academic Advisor or Registrar’s Office with any questions.

NOTE: COVID-19 Academic Accommodation Relief program is temporarily available; Bay State College is at will to discontinue or extend the time period of this program based on any continued developments of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and/or the institution’s needs. 

1. Academic & Admission Holds Registration Permission

Bay State College has temporarily permitted those students affected by COVID-19 with Academic and/or Admissions registration holds to allow them to register for Summer 2020 through Spring 2021 terms. Students that are eligible for this accommodation, in addition to the Student Declaration Form, must submit a Student Action Form with their course registration requests. Please know once registration is processed student holds will remain until the hold requirements are satisfied. NOTE: This accommodation does not apply to Immunization Holds for programs requiring it for clinicals or Holds applied by Financial Aid/Bursar/or Student Accounts, please contact those departments for assistance. 

2. Attendance Policy Accommodation 

Bay State College students are expected to attend all course sessions and regularly actively participate in their classes. During this time, we understand there are students that are directly affected by COVID-19, which would temporarily prevent them from posting attendance and may need an excused absence in their course(s). Bay State College is temporarily permitting accommodations for attendance and granting excused absences. In order for a student to be eligible they must have already attended their course(s), have contacted their instructor of their intent to pursue an accommodation, and fully understand they are expected to be responsible to for all course(s) assignments to be completed as the instructor permits. Students that are granted an excused absence under the Attendance Policy Accommodation will not be Administratively Withdrawn; they are required to attend their course(s) the week following their excused absence. NOTE: Students who find themselves needing to request an incomplete for their course(s) must see #4 of the Accommodation Relief below and the College’s Incomplete Grade policy found in the Student Handbook.  

3. Extend Withdrawal Period Accommodation

It is Bay State College’s course withdrawal policy which states, “withdrawing from a course after the Add/Drop period, but before the Last Day to Withdraw, will result in a grade of W, which will impact the student's percentage of classes completed. Students who withdraw from a course after the Last Day to Withdraw, will result in a punitive grade of WF.” During this time Bay State College is temporarily extending the withdrawal deadline to allow students affected by COVID-19 to withdraw from their courses, up to finals week, without resulting in a punitive WF grade. Students that are eligible for the Extended Withdrawal Period Accommodation, in addition to the Student Declaration Form, must submit a Student Action Form for withdrawal from their course(s) to receive a W grade. NOTE: Students who find themselves needing to request an incomplete for their course(s) must see #4 of the Accommodation Relief below and the College’s Incomplete Grade policy found in the Student Handbook.  

4. Incomplete Grade Policy Modification 

Bay State College’s current Incomplete Grade Policy requires a student to complete a substantive portion of the course to be eligible for an incomplete and only granted one semester to complete or result in a punitive IF grade. Students affected by COVID-19 in Summer 2020 through Spring 2021 will have the ability to request for an incomplete in the time that circumstances which require it, after add/drop period, and has already posted attendance in their course. In addition, this temporary accommodation permits students granted an incomplete grade during Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 an additional semester to complete their course work, totaling two full semesters. All students requesting this accommodation are required to complete the Incomplete Authorization Form along with the Student Declaration Form, and are expected to be fully responsible for all course requirements to be completed within the time frame allowed or will result in an IF grade.

If you feel you may need any of the above temporary accommodations, please complete this Student Declaration Form.