COVID-19 and Summer Safety These updates regard non-credit summer programs only. Thank you for reading the important communications below!
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Dear Summer Community,
Please see the message below from the Office of the President, sent on Tuesday, June 29.
Starting today, Wednesday, June 30, masks are no longer required indoors for summer students who are fully vaccinated. If a student is partially or unvaccinated, masks will still be enforced. Masks will also be enforced for all students should an instructor request so.
Our team will continue to monitor the situation and answer any questions that may arise.
Thank you for your continued understanding.
Heidi Ward, Director
Community and Summer Education
Friday, March 5, 2021
Dear Summer Community,
Warmest greetings from Pittsburgh, PA! We hope you are staying continually safe and healthy. Nearly one year later, it’s hard to believe all that we’ve adjusted to, but hopefully this wait has been well worth it.
We are eagerly looking ahead as Point Park University resumes on-campus operations for the summer 2021 season. PPU’s plan for campus operations will continue to follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Governor Wolf, the PA Department of Health (DOH), the PA Department of Education (PDE) and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD).
Please be aware that the below guidelines may adjust as more information becomes available and is subject to change at any time.
To ensure all community members have a safe and enjoyable season, there are a few alterations we want to address as we strategically plan for the fun summer ahead.
All students participating in our summer programming will be required to attend as a resident student within our residential buildings.The only exception is our two-day Service Learning Camp. All residential students must be 14 years old to stay in our dorms. No commuter options are available to ensure less exposure to our students, faculty and staff.
Please carefully review the following details:
OVERVIEW:
- Before coming to campus, all students (including family members of students) will be required to self-quarantine 10 days prior to arrival. During this time, please adhere to public health guidance by limiting travel, wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing and using good hygiene.
- All attending students will be required to complete a daily prescreening questionnaire starting 10 days prior to the start of their camp. This feature is available online through our CampDoc portal. The intent of this activity is to increase health awareness.
- All residential students will need to arrive with or have uploaded a digital copy of a negative, molecular COVID-19 test. Rapid tests are not being accepted at this time due to poor accuracy results. Tests should be completed within 72 hours of your arrival date.
- During the registration process, students and families for the 2021 season will need to acknowledge the risks associated with COVID-19 by reading, understanding and signing the associated waiver.
- Most students will be placed in a double occupancy room for the duration of their stay. Roommates will be assigned prior to move-in. If you need to request a single occupancy room due to underlying health conditions, please contact our department as soon as possible. There are a limited number of singles available but we cannot make any guarantees.
ACCESS:
- To decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading on campus, we will be enforcing a no guest policy for all outside guests. The only exception is each student will be allowed to have two support people for both move-in and move-out procedures. We will continue to monitor this policy as we get closer to summer.
- Large gatherings are prohibited outside of campus.
MASK ETIQUETTE:
Everyone is required to wear a face mask in and around all PPU properties. Masks will also be required if a student chooses to venture off campus during their stay. Masks will be the key to our success.
- A mask is required at all times except within your assigned room and while sleeping.
- Students are required to have a new mask each day or thoroughly wash & dry their mask overnight.
- Masks worn must be 2 layers of fabric.
- Please ensure your mask fits well and has no gaps.
- Please no neck gaiter style masks. If you can see light through your mask, it is too thin.
- All masks should cover the students nose and mouth.
To stay up-to-date, community members will receive messages about the current set of guidelines through their CampDoc portal and online via our Summer COVID-19 Webpage. If you have additional questions while making your summer decision, please reach out to Community and Summer Education at summercamps@pointpark.edu. We are mindful of the challenges caused by COVID-19 and look forward to helping all summer participants reimagine their summer experience.
In today’s digital world, summer programs have never been more essential. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a successful and safe summer season.
Stay Healthy!
Heidi Ward, Director
Community and Summer Education
Dear Summer Participants,
The rollercoaster we’ve been on has certainly been a wild ride. We understand the cancellation of summer programs is difficult and unfortunate. Please know we are right there with you when we say we will miss you this summer. Thank you for your continued support.
If you are / have a student that auditioned and was accepted for our International Summer Dance or Summer Theatre Intensive, our offer will be deferred until 2021. All other programs do not require an audition.
Also - be sure to check out our free offerings happening between June 22 – July 31, 2020. It is our hope that these virtual sessions rekindle the spirit of connection and illuminate a forward path towards next summer! These classes will include dance, cinema arts, music, communications and more. Information will be available on our webpage, Community and Summer Education.
Until then, be kind to yourself.
Warmly,
The Department of Community and Summer Education
The important information below applies to students who have registered and made any form of payment towards 2020 summer camps. Families have one of two choices now that summer camps have officially been cancelled.
Option #1: Opt for a CREDIT
I want a credit towards summer programming in 2021 (recommended choice!) Defer your registration until next year. Any paid balance(s) will be transferred to next season.
Option #2: Opt for a REFUND → credit card or bank account
I want a credit card or bank account refund of all tuition or add-on costs currently paid minus any third party fees Point Park is unable to collect back. Our merchant processing rate is 2.95% on all charges (including tuition, room/board, and add-ons) + a $0.30 fee per successful transaction. Donations are not included in this refund.
A credit card or bank account refund can only be processed if the payment method used to make the original transaction is a saved payment method on file in CampDoc.
To add the payment method used to make the original transaction, follow these steps:
- Login to your profile via CampDoc.
- Click on your child’s name in the upper right-hand corner of your account.
- Select the Billing Tab.
- To add a new payment method, select the Add a Payment Method in green.
- If paying with a bank account, please double check your account and routing number. If numbers are entered incorrectly and a payment is attempted, you will incur a $35.00 returned refund fee.
- After entering your card or account information, you will need to allow Point Park University permission to use this payment method. Select Yes.
- Enter your billing address.
- Click Save Payment Method in green.
- Please reference the photo below for more information.
Option #2a: Opt for a REFUND → check sent by mail
- Login to your profile via CampDoc.
- Click on your child’s name in the upper right-hand corner of your account.
- Select About You.
- Verify or update your Mailing Address. Click Save.
As a reminder, please be sure to complete our short survey, found here, to indicate your cancellation preference. If you have any questions prior to completing our survey, please email summercamps@pointpark.edu . Thank you.
Dear Registered and Interested Summer Participants,
Point Park University has made the difficult decision to cancel all residential and in-person summer camps. This was a hard choice but the right one for our community given the potential spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within the United States and abroad. For those who may have registered for programming already, please check this specific webpage within the coming days for further details regarding credits and refunds.
The mission of Community and Summer Education is to provide educational and enrichment opportunities for energetic students from all over the region, country and globe. We are proud to offer authentic, participant-centered programming that generates personal development and future adventures through higher education.
Although we are disheartened that students and instructors cannot be together in person this summer, we are excited to share that a variety of the summer programs will be offered through selective virtual classes and sessions.
The best part? New summer camp initiatives will be available FREE of charge to the public.
Community and Summer Education is currently working with instructors to craft a schedule of events. Further details regarding these pre-professional classes will become available over the next few weeks. Please check the webpage specific to Community and Summer Education for more information.
Hello from Community and Summer Education!
Thank you for your flexibility and continued interest in our summer programs here at Point Park University. As we continue to take each day with optimism, we do want to provide additional details regarding our non-credit summer programming.
A decision regarding the operational status of programming will be made between April 30 - May 4. Please check back to this page for an official green or red light regarding summer.
We've also adjusted many deadlines should we be able to run summer programming as usual. They are as followed:
Deadline Adjustments:
- Video applications for International Summer Dance and our Summer Theatre Intensive have been extended until Friday, May 15, 2020. We have also developed additional guidelines given the current state of many studios.
- Given that most dance studios are closed, we are happy to accept home videos containing some of the exercises or substitutions including, a solo or short ensemble performance video with a description of which dancer is auditioning (examples; dancer in the blue costume, dancer who starts upstage right, dancer who enters downstage left, etc.). Video of dancers from classes such as parent observation or taken by friends would also be admissible. We understand that we are all in a dynamic situation and will be flexible when it comes to reasonable limitations.
- Online registration to reserve a spot in any of our on-campus programs has now been extended until Saturday, May 30, 2020.
- Balances must be paid in full and payment plans complete by Friday, June 19, 2020.
- Deposits will be refunded should we need to cancel (minus any third party fees we cannot collect back)
If you have any additional questions, our team is available by email at summercamps@pointpark.edu . Stay safe — and know that we are always here for you. We truly hope we can overcome this adversity and deliver a memorable experience for our students, faculty and staff.
Warmly,
Community & Summer Education
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
e: hward@pointpark.edu
p: 412-392-6163
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Dear Summer Participants,
On behalf of Point Park University and the Department of Community and Summer Education, we want to provide an update regarding COVID-19 and our summer programs. Together with University leadership, we will continue to monitor domestic and international effects as we get closer to our programming dates. The safety and health of our students and staff is always our highest priority. At this time however, it is difficult for us to make a fully informed decision as all of our programming is just under 90 days away.
Please understand that if we need to cancel non-credit programming, you will be notified directly through email. Families will receive a refund of all tuition or add-on costs currently paid minus any third party fees we are unable to collect back. Our merchant processing rate is 2.95% on all charges (including tuition, room/board, and add-ons) + a $0.30 fee per successful transaction. Donations are not included in this refund. If we are able to run programming and your child cannot attend because K-12 schools have been extended, we will also uphold the above policy. We understand each family will have a different situation and will be here to provide guidance.
While we are driven to continue summer programming as usual, we will not jeopardize anyone’s health or safety and must follow the direction of local, state and federal health agencies and officials. Summer is truly our beacon in this storm.
Please be aware that the insurance company of the protection plan offered during registration is Arch Insurance Solutions at 1-877-722-1959. The Basic protection plan will be available, and can be purchased at any time if you’d like additional scenarios covered. This plan includes cancellation and interruption coverage as well as emergency medical benefits.
| Scenario | Basic Plan |
| A participant or a participant's family member contracts an illness BEFORE camp begins. | Yes Cancellation Benefits Apply |
| A participant contracts an illness while AT camp. | Yes Interruption and Emergency Medical Benefits Apply |
| A family wants to cancel their registration due to CONCERNS or FEAR over an illness. | No |
We hope that everyone remains healthy and safe so we can have a fun-filled summer. If you have any questions regarding or in addition to the above description, please email: summercamps@pointpark.edu.
Thank you for your support and patience.
Community & Summer Education
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
e: hward@pointpark.edu
p: 412-392-6163