Penn Nursing’s Plans for Fall 2021

Dear Penn Nursing Students,

We are pleased to write today with an update to the plans for Penn Nursing for the Fall 2021 semester. On April 22, President Gutmann sent an email to the University community outlining the University’s plans for the Fall 2021 semester and the return to greater in-person teaching, research, and residential living. She also outlined the vaccination requirements for COVID-19 and the flu. Students can read the full message online.

Recognizing that information regarding the pandemic continues to evolve, below are some guidelines that are grounded in ensuring the health and safety of our Penn Nursing community while adhering to current CDC, Commonwealth, City, and University guidance.

 

General Guidelines across Programs

  1. Clinical training will continue in-person at clinical partner agencies according to all State, City, and University health guidelines. All students will be required to review, sign, and comply with the Penn Nursing Student Clinical Compact that outlines requirements of the student, school/University, and the clinical training site to ensure safe clinical training.
  2. The offering of most courses will be dependent on class size.
  3. A course may use both in-person and virtual learning strategies based on what facilitates student learning.
  4. Components of a course can be offered as either in-person or as virtual learning. Given current limitations, a component of a class cannot be simultaneously delivered as both video and in-person.

 

BSN/ABSN Curriculum Plans

  • Courses with an enrollment of less than 30 students will be taught in person.
  • Courses with an enrollment of 30 or more will follow these guidelines:
    • Lecture: All lecture content for all courses, regardless of class size, will be prepared for and offered in virtual format using SON-available platforms, e.g., Canvas, BlueJeans, Zoom.
    • Recitations: Content will be delivered in-person.
    • Simulation: Content will be delivered in-person.
  • Clinical training will continue in-person at clinical partner agencies according to all State, City, and University health guidelines.
  • Student advising will occur both in-person and via virtual platforms.

 

MSN and DNP-NA Curriculum Plans

  • For courses with an enrollment of less than 30, course content may be delivered in person or virtually.
  • Clinical training will continue in-person at clinical partner agencies according to all State, City, and University health guidelines.
  • Simulation content will be delivered in-person.
  • DNP-NA students will conduct their DNP projects in-person at healthcare facilities and agencies as available. Faculty and Site Leads for DNP Projects will use both in-person and virtual platforms for project mentoring.
  • Student advising will occur both in-person and via virtual platforms.

 

Post-Masters DNP, Executive Leadership DNP, and Post Graduate APRN Certificate Curriculum Plans

  • These are fully online programs; all courses are provided in an online format in Canvas.
  • DNP projects will continue in-person or virtually at healthcare facilities and agencies planned and available.
  • Student advising will continue to occur via virtual platforms.

 

PhD

  • PhD courses are mostly expected to be conducted in-person.
    • Pre-doctoral research will be undertaken in compliance with the SON and University Research Resumption guidelines. Please visit the COVID-19 Sharepoint Site for any Research Resumption information.  
    • Student advising will continue to occur via virtual platforms.

 

We remain grateful to you, our students, for your determination, adaptability, and perseverance. Please continue to take care of yourselves and others, especially as the academic year comes to a close. Be well and stay safe.

 

Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor and Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing

Julie Sochalski, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Academic Programs

José A. Bauermeister, PhD, MPH
Chair, Department of Family and Community Health

Nancy A. Hodgson, PhD, RN, FAAN
Chair, Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences

Christina M. Costanzo, EdD
Assistant Dean for Admissions & Academic Affairs