Marquette University

[Macallan 18]

Marquette extending remote learning through the remainder of the semester and postponing commencement. Really feel for the seniors

https://www.marquette.edu/email/today/marquette-today-coronavirus-3-23-20.php

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Dear Marquette community:

As we start our first full week of remote learning and working, we want to thank you for your continued patience as we move the university forward amid this unprecedented set of circumstances.

Given changing guidance from the State of Wisconsin and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are announcing several major decisions, made after thoughtful input from university leaders and public health experts. We understand these may be difficult to read, and may cause sadness, anxiety and even anger. Please know that every decision we are making is to ensure the health, safety and well being of our campus community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marquette University announces the following:

Remote learning extension
Remote learning is extended through May 10, the end of the spring semester. This includes final exams, which will be taken online or through a remote learning method determined by instructors. Deans of colleges where students are engaged in hands-on clinical experiences will be in touch with students to discuss next steps. A remote learning website has been created as a resource for students.

Summer Studies
Registration for all summer sessions is open. We do not yet know whether Marquette will be open for on-campus summer instruction, but today 200 sections of undergraduate and graduate classes are available fully online, and more will be added. As of now, the summer calendar remains as listed on the academic calendar.

Fall registration and fall housing deadlines
Fall registration will begin April 6 for all undergraduate and graduate students. Students will receive new registration times by March 25. The fall university housing deadline will also be delayed; students will receive more information in the coming weeks.

 
Room and board credits

Students who are spring residence hall residents will receive a 50% credit to their Bursar account, which can be used for future tuition, room and board. Some exclusions apply; those students will be contacted separately. For those students who stayed in our residence halls after Spring Break, the credit will be prorated based on length of time living in the residence halls.

The remaining meal balance for Loyalty 50 plans will be credited to students’ Bursar accounts. Individuals who would like to keep their plan active or donate their remaining meals to students facing food insecurity should email orl@marquette.edu by March 27.

Students who have an Anytime Meal Plan will receive a 50% credit to their Bursar account. Individuals who would like to keep their Anytime Meal Plan active should email orl@marquette.edu by March 27.

The goal is to have room and board credits processed by April 3.

At the request of some of our Marquette parents, families may gift a portion or all of their room and board credit to support Marquette’s Bridge to the Future Fund to assist students experiencing unexpected financial need. Families who wish to support Marquette in this way can contact Missy Egelhoff at melissa.egelhoff@marquette.edu or (414) 288-6774 by March 27. Gifts, regardless of size, will help Marquette ensure our students have the resources they need during this challenging time.

Retrieval of students’ items from residence halls

The Office of Residence Life will email students who had been living in the residence halls with specific instructions regarding a process to retrieve belongings, beginning March 25. The process will be managed to ensure social distancing best practices are followed and to limit the number of students moving out at any one time. If students are unable to come to campus in person, ORL has options to have their belongings packed and stored, at additional cost. If a shelter-in-place order from a state or local government is issued that affects Marquette, that may change the timing of when students may return to campus to retrieve their belongings. This is a fluid situation and we appreciate your flexibility and patience.

A very limited number of students who do not have anywhere else to finish their remote studies will be allowed to remain in the residence halls.

Remote work
Remote work continues for faculty and staff. The university will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidance from state and local authorities.

Events guidance
All events held on the Marquette University campus are canceled through May 10. 

Commencement
We have made the very difficult but necessary decision to postpone Marquette’s 139th Commencement ceremonies, including college-specific ceremonies. We know this is just the latest in a series of changes our campus community – and especially our graduating seniors – have had to face. As parents ourselves, we have experienced firsthand that Commencement is the culmination of years of hard work for our graduates and their families. To give this special occasion the pomp and circumstance it deserves, we want to celebrate Commencement together, in person, and in a safe and meaningful way. A team from across the university is working on options, including the likelihood of postponing the in-person celebration until August, and will be gathering feedback from spring 2020 graduates. We promise to be in touch with our spring 2020 graduates soon to share more details. With Commencement delayed, students who meet their graduation requirements will still have a graduation date of May 2020 on their diplomas. The university intends to mail diplomas by early June.

 

Parking refunds

    Students: All students with commuter parking permits will receive a refund for 50% of the semester parking expense. Students with 24-hour parking permits must email the Parking Office by March 27 if they wish to cancel their parking permit and retrieve their car from campus by April 1 to receive a 50% refund. If students cancel their permits and remove their cars after April 1, the refund will be prorated.
    Faculty and staff: The university will suspend collection of parking fees for those who pay to park in a campus parking structure or surface lot for the month of April, which will be reflected in April pay periods. The university will continue to assess parking as the situation evolves.

In an effort to answer questions as quickly as possible, we have developed an extensive Frequently Asked Questions page on Marquette’s coronavirus website. Questions not addressed via the FAQs can be asked via this form or by calling Marquette Central at (414) 288-4000.

Please continue to support one another in the spirit of cura personalis. Rev. Jim Voiss, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, said it best in this video message: “Our challenge is to model our mission of excellence, faith, leadership and the spirit of service we embody at Marquette – even during these difficult times.” We are being tested as never before, and we’re grateful for everything you’re doing every day. Marquette University is better because of you. Know that each of us is praying daily for our entire Marquette family.

 

Dr. Michael R. Lovell
President

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Joel Pogodzinski
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

[mu_hilltopper]

I especially feel bad for class of 2020 seniors. 

They were headed for a pretty solid job market, very low unemployment.   That all changed on a dime, and now their job prospects are close to zero.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Moving out started today. Unversity is looking for MU staff volunteers to help at the dorms. We need that list to fill up to help the students and their families.

[Jockey]

I especially feel bad for class of 2020 seniors. 

They were headed for a pretty solid job market, very low unemployment.   That all changed on a dime, and now their job prospects are close to zero.

Agreed.

But I feel more sorry for families with young children who are already out there trying to find their way through this.

[Macallan 18]

Marquette issuing room and board refunds (not credits) for residence halls. Wonder how much this will impact the budget.

https://today.marquette.edu/2020/03/university-issuing-room-and-board-refunds-not-credits-for-residence-halls/

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Based on newly released guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, Marquette will be issuing refunds (rather than credits) for room and board for students who were living in residence halls during the spring semester.

For students who were living in residence halls, refunds will be issued as follows:

+ For students who have an outstanding bursar account balance, the refund of 50% of their semester room and board costs, including meal plans, will be first applied to that balance. Any amount remaining after the balance is paid in full will be issued as a refund via direct deposit or check. Some exclusions apply; those students will be contacted separately.

+ Students whose bursar accounts are paid in full will receive a full refund via direct deposit or check for 50% of their semester room and board costs, including meal plans.

+ The small number of students that continue to stay in residence halls and eat on campus will not receive a refund.

For all other students who purchased a spring semester meal plan, refunds will be issued as follows:

+ For students who have an outstanding bursar account balance, a refund of 50% of their meal plans will be first applied to that balance. Any amount remaining after the balance is paid in full will be issued as a refund via direct deposit or check. Some exclusions apply; those students will be contacted separately.

+ Students whose bursar accounts are paid in full will receive a full refund via direct deposit or check for 50% of their meal plan cost.

+ The small number of students that continue to eat on campus will not receive a refund.

Students who have not already done so should sign up for direct deposit by April 15 to receive their refunds as quickly as possible, and to minimize the number of employees on campus required to print paper checks. Visit the Marquette Central website for instructions on how to sign up for direct deposit through Checkmarq.

The university will issue the refunds no later than April 17 by direct deposit or mail.

[TinyTimsLittleBrother]

It will impact the budget pretty severely.  Between this, the unmet (unrealistic) attendance goals, and a terrible market ripping up their endowment, it is going to be an awful financial year for Marquette.

But most schools can weather a year like this.  But there are dark clouds for next year.

*Enrollment did not only not meet numbers goals this year, they had to discount too much to get the class they got.  Now they have to hope to retain them AND recruit an even larger class next year while not sacrificing on the revenue side.  That's not going to happen.

*With decreased NCAA payouts this year, the athletic department is really in a tough shape for next year.  Basketball has to go on as planned attendance wise.  But there are a lot of questions about weather or not the season ticket base will hold.  Lackluster results, what could end up being a very poor economy, skittishness about going to larger events.  If Marquette basketball isn't profitable, they are really going to be in poor shape not only in the athletic department, but because the University will likely have to cover some costs it hadn't previously.

*Fundraising continues to be a problem. Announcing the business building campaign, then having the dean die in an accident, then having COVID happen was absolutely horrific luck.  I don't mean to make light of either tragedy, but if Marquette knew then what it knows now, that building would not have been announced.  But also Lovell isn't really connecting with a number of donors.

The University isn't closing or anything, but there are a lot of dark clouds on the horizon.  Some of them are new, but a number have been there for awhile.  Not good.

[Sir Lawrence]

My Godson and his father drove up and back from Indy yesterday to clear out his dorm room at Mashuda Hall.  They were allotted an hour and a half to clear everything out.  They saw the RA and one other student during the time they were in the building.  The student is staying the rest of the semester.  I asked if he was a student from a foreign land.  Nope.  A small city in Wisconsin.  Apparently not a good home life.  Sad.  But I'm happy that someone at MU was able to see the circumstances and accommodate him.

The other part of the story was the commute from Indy to Milwaukee and back.  They, not surprisingly, sailed the entire trip.  Nothing but semis out there. 

[mu_hilltopper]

These are all great points.

Had MU's season continued with two more losses, season ticket accounts would have taken a hit .. that factor is likely smaller now, with the big asterisk of COVID.

But also .. doesn't MU ask for renewals in May?   That'll be just weeks from peak COVID and unemployment is gonna be double digits, massive recession in the works. 

Could be a huge huge reduction as people think about what's necessary in their lives.

[Galway Eagle]

These are all great points.

Had MU's season continued with two more losses, season ticket accounts would have taken a hit .. that factor is likely smaller now, with the big asterisk of COVID.

But also .. doesn't MU ask for renewals in May?   That'll be just weeks from peak COVID and unemployment is gonna be double digits, massive recession in the works. 

Could be a huge huge reduction as people think about what's necessary in their lives.

They're going to have to market the heck out of the returning notes same series along with a Wisconsin home game

[MUfan12]

Not sure if it's plausible, but it might be an ideal time to skip a year of reseating and allow people to renew in the same location for next season.

[The Lens]

*Fundraising continues to be a problem. Announcing the business building campaign, then having the dean die in an accident, then having COVID happen was absolutely horrific luck.  I don't mean to make light of either tragedy, but if Marquette knew then what it knows now, that building would not have been announced.  But also Lovell isn't really connecting with a number of donors.

I continue to hear this more and more. 

[mu_hilltopper]

They're going to have to market the heck out of the returning notes same series along with a Wisconsin home game

Our last few years with season tickets, we were splitting with another couple, so would only get lucky with the UW tickets once every 4 years.  -- Now that we switched to the mini-plan .. we get UW tickets every time.

So .. UW tickets are not a huge selling point any more for the full season.

[Galway Eagle]

Our last few years with season tickets, we were splitting with another couple, so would only get lucky with the UW tickets once every 4 years.  -- Now that we switched to the mini-plan .. we get UW tickets every time.

So .. UW tickets are not a huge selling point any more for the full season.

Hah Notre dame got corrected to notes same. But yeah I get what you mean

[GB Warrior]

These are all great points.

Had MU's season continued with two more losses, season ticket accounts would have taken a hit .. that factor is likely smaller now, with the big asterisk of COVID.

But also .. doesn't MU ask for renewals in May?   That'll be just weeks from peak COVID and unemployment is gonna be double digits, massive recession in the works. 

Could be a huge huge reduction as people think about what's necessary in their lives.

On the flip side they might be so desperate for sports that they are still willing to watch their Marquette squad deteriorate every February.

[TinyTimsLittleBrother]

These are all great points.

Had MU's season continued with two more losses, season ticket accounts would have taken a hit .. that factor is likely smaller now, with the big asterisk of COVID.

But also .. doesn't MU ask for renewals in May?   That'll be just weeks from peak COVID and unemployment is gonna be double digits, massive recession in the works. 

Could be a huge huge reduction as people think about what's necessary in their lives.

That is exactly right.  They have done the projections for next year.  And they are, in a word, ugly.

I wouldn't doubt that they hope the NCAA drops the minimum number of sports. 

[The Lens]

That is exactly right.  They have done the projections for next year.  And they are, in a word, ugly.

I wouldn't doubt that they hope the NCAA drops the minimum number of sports.

The good news is all spring sport "student-athletes" have another year of eligibility...the bad news is we eliminated all spring sports.

 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Iowa State is having their coaches take cuts.  Oregon is looking into it as well.  My guess is that this will be a trend.

[WarriorDad]

That is exactly right.  They have done the projections for next year.  And they are, in a word, ugly.

I wouldn't doubt that they hope the NCAA drops the minimum number of sports.

It will help to break the myth that college sports is flush with cash.  One of our kids played division I in a non revenue sport and it was by no means a plush experience.  With the exception of a few powerful football schools, most are breakeven or lose money in athletics.   

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Many D1 athletic departments are flush with income, but they spend every single cent of it.  They are like drunken sailors.  Very little long-term planning or endowment development at most schools.

[WarriorDad]

DePaul announced they are freezing tuition for the upcoming academic year as a result of the virus. 

[4everwarriors]

Smart move, aina?

[Macallan 18]

Refunding a half semester’s worth of room and board costs combined with other lost revenues and additional expenses related to the pandemic has resulted in an immediate short-term financial shortfall of approximately $15 million.

A number of steps were announced today including temporary unpaid furloughs starting after April 17 for about 250 employees and a pause in non essential hiring.

https://www.marquette.edu/email/today/coronavirus-staff-4-08-20.php

[Mr. Nielsen]

Campus operations this fall and new Commencement date.

https://today.marquette.edu/2020/04/covid-19-update-campus-operations-this-fall-and-new-commencement-date/

[WarriorDad]

Many D1 athletic departments are flush with income, but they spend every single cent of it.  They are like drunken sailors.  Very little long-term planning or endowment development at most schools.

That can be said about departments across the land.  Spend it or lose it. 

[Macallan 18]

Deposits for the incoming first-year class are tracking behind last year. The current number of deposits is 179 fewer than last year, or 13% less.

Staff believe that the inability to visit Marquette contributed to the decline in deposits. The two admitted students days for the Class of 2023 in April 2019 generated 60 deposits each. 


https://marquettewire.org/4032658/news/class-of-2024-enrollment-numbers-sees-decline/

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Class of 2024 enrollment numbers sees decline

This story was written by Matthew Choate. He can be reached at matthew.choate@marquette.edu.

Enrollment numbers for the incoming class have gone down compared to previous years, according to the provost Kimo Ah Yun.

Vice president for enrollment management John Baworowsky supervises undergraduate admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of the Registrar and Marquette Central.

Baworowsky said deposits for the incoming first-year class are tracking behind last year. The current number of deposits is 179 fewer than last year, or 13% less.

The number began to fall behind in March when many high schools and universities announced they would be switching to online school due to COVID-19.

Baworowsky said he believed the deposit number declined in March because prospective students were focused on their online high school classes rather than on their college selection.

He also said he believes that the inability to visit Marquette contributed to the decline in deposits. He said the two admitted students days for the Class of 2023 in April 2019 generated 60 deposits each. 

Baworowsky said he hopes online visits and events being offered to potential students will help to generate more deposits.

He also said the university has an admitted students web page for potential students. Students, faculty and deans have posted videos giving information about Marquette. Baworowsky said he hopes to see more similar events held in June and allow an extension on deposits until then.

Baworowsky said this situation is not normal, and he  “hasn’t seen anything like it in his 38-year career.”

He said it’s an “all hands on deck” approach to encourage high school students to apply and choose Marquette. This involves being able to get information to potential students about Marquette.

The drop in admissions deposits could have an impact on the diversity of the incoming class.

William Welburn, the vice president for Inclusive Excellence, seeks opportunities to work collaboratively with the campus on various issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“(The drop in admissions) is simultaneously disheartening and understandable,” Welburn said in an email. “Most four year colleges and universities are concerned with drops in enrollment.”

Despite this, Welburn said Marquette’s admissions efforts are “very strong.” However, he did note that high school students all over the country are still trying to figure out what to do.

“For students of color, other underrepresented students, and first generation students, it is an even greater challenge to decide where to matriculate (enroll) in the fall,” Welburn said in an email.

Welburn said Marquette is attracting many applications and admitting very good students, but the current environment makes it tough for new students to figure out where they’re going in the fall. Baworowsky said it’s difficult to increase deposits because high school students are likely more focused on completing their online classes, rather than choosing what college to attend. Despite the situation, Welburn said he stays optimistic.

Welburn said the Marquette admissions team has done an extraordinary job of getting all students admitted to Marquette. “And by applying, clearly, students can see themselves at Marquette,” Welburn said in an email.

However, Welburn said seeing a decline in enrollment by students of color would reverse a five-year increase. For example, Welburn said there has been an increase in the number of students of color going from 23.3% to 28%.

Despite the decrease in deposits, Welburn said the Admissions Office has done quality work over the years through excellent leadership and very hard work.

“Frankly these days the very best colleges and universities across the United States are also attracting a diversity of students,” Welburn said in an email. “We know that we are better together when we are learning together, addressing the challenges of our society together and preparing to go out into a culturally diverse world.”