When do classes start with the adjusted academic calendar? 

The first day of classes is Monday, August 17. You can view the academic calendar here: cumberland.edu/calendar/academic-calendar/. 

How does the A/B schedule work?

To limit the total volume of students on campus, all undergraduate students will be divided into an A group and a B group. Students with last names A-K wil be on campus Mondays and Tuesdays and online on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students with last names L-Z will be online on Mondays and Tuesdays and on campus Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

For example if your last name is Anderson, you will come to campus for your classes on Monday and Tuesday, and do your Wednesday and Thursday classes online. Professors will choose to do their courses synchronously – meaning you must login at a certain time each day, or asynchronously – meaning they will assign work for you to do on your own time. 

Some exceptions to this schedule include graduate classes, undergraduate classes starting after 3pm, undergraduate classes with enrollment of 10 students or less, Friday classes, art studio classes, choral ensembles, instrumental ensembles, classes that meet in McFarland Hall and nursing courses that meet in Alumni Hall. 

Who do I contact for exceptions to the A/B schedule?

If you need to be considered for alternative learning arrangements, including taking courses fully online, fully onground, please fill out the Fall 2020 – Request for Alternative Learning Arrangements form by Friday, August 7. A committee will be reviewing all requests for alternate learning solutions and you will be notified with a decision. 

What is the social contract and how do I sign it?

CU is requiring all students, faculty and staff to agree to a social contract for returning to campus. This contract lays out the behaviors that are expected of you for the health and well-being of all our campus community. This includes things like respecting personal space and practicing social distancing, wearing facial coverings on campus and self-monitoring your symptoms daily. 

Students will be prompted to view and accept the social contract when logging into CAMS, beginning on Wednesday, July 29. 

How will I use the daily symptom tracker?

All students, faculty and staff will be required to use the daily symptom tracker on the Cumberland App prior to coming to campus. To use the symptom tracker, make sure you have the CU App downloaded on your smartphone or tablet. 

When you open the CU app, you will be prompted to the daily symptom tracker, which will ask you a series of questions inquiring as to whether you have experienced any of the most commonly known symptoms of the virus. After filling out the short survey, you will be given the “OK to come to campus” or if you are symptomatic, you will self-isolate and reach out to healthservices@cumberland.edu for next steps. A healthcare provider will speak with you on what your next steps should be. 

You can download the CU app on the app store here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cumberland-university/id1246372372

And on Google Play here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oohlala.cumberland

How will I get my books? 

Students are strongly encouraged to order books online at https://cumberland.textbooktech.com. Orders will be shipped free until the first day of class. 

You may also pick up your books on-campus, if you select “in-store pickup” at checkout. The bookstore is located in the Mitchell Student Center, with a ground floor entrance in the back of the building facing the Heydel Fine Arts Center. If you do come to the campus bookstore, remember to wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet between you and others. The bookstore will be open until August 28 to fulfill orders and process refunds. 

To order your books, you’ll need your class schedule. Go to https://cumberland.textbooktech.com, select the department, course and section from your schedule. There is a live chat feature on the website if you have any questions!

How do I use Financial Aid to order books?

If you use additional loan funds to cover the cost of books, official students who have a credit balance up to $1,000 will be uploaded to your account on August 3. These funds can be used to purchase books in the online checkout process. For any questions, email cumberland@textbookbrokers.com, use the Live Chat feature on cumberland.textbooktech.com or call 615-547-1248.

How will we do labs at home?

Labs will be conducted a bit differently this semester. Some labs will be in person, some will be done remotely and some will be done as a combination of the two. Your instructor will give you more information on how labs will work. 

If you have additional questions, your specific lab instructor is the best person to ask. 

Will tutoring and other resources be available to students?

Yes, all academic resources will be available to students. Students are encouraged to use on-campus resources during their on-campus days or after 3pm on their online days. Resources will be available virtually. For more information on academic resources, visit https://www.cumberland.edu/academics-2/academic-resources/. 

Will dining facilities be open in the fall? 

Yes, dining facilities will be open for the fall semester. The Phillip’s Dining Hall will be limited to 100 individuals inside and 20 on the patio. The Bistro and Market will offer to-go dining options only. 

Increased frequency of cleaning and sanitation procedures, including face coverings will be required. All self-service stations have been eliminated and additional barriers and other safety precautions have been implemented. 

I’m having trouble logging into my account – who do I contact? 

The CU IT department is available to help students with issues including password resets, remote access and CAMS or CANVAS issues. To submit an IT request, visit support.cumberland.edu/portal. 

How can I stay informed?All students, faculty and staff should closely monitor their Cumberland email accounts for any updates. You can also find up-to-date information on the webpage cumberland.edu/coronavirus/, as well as the official CU social media channels. If you have additional questions regarding the reopening, please email questions@cumberland.edu.