Student COVID-19 Update

It’s hard to believe we are already in week four of virtual learning. We hope you are all doing well. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Student Engagement Team if you need help. Email them your concerns at studentengagement@bradley.edu or text 516-900-6872 and someone will be in touch right away to assist you.

Housing and Meal Plan Refunds

The credits for residence hall and SAC housing fees and meal plans have been applied to student accounts and will be used to offset any unpaid, outstanding tuition and fee charges. Any credit balance on your account will result in a check being issued May 5, 2020, and it will be mailed to your home address on file in Webster. If you have any questions regarding your student bill or you need to address any special circumstances, please contact the Bursar's Office at stufees@fsmail.bradley.edu or (309) 677-3120.

For those living in St. James, you have received notification via email regarding the status of your rent adjustment and how any refund would be processed.

Move Out

If you lived in the residence halls, St. James or SAC and you still have personal items there, you will receive an email next week outlining the move-out process. In some cases, you will be required to sign up for a move-out time, so be sure to read the process thoroughly.

Book Returns

If you rented books from the bookstore, you will receive emails reminding you to return your rentals. The email will have a link to the bookstore website where you will be able to print a UPS label for the returns.

Library Returns

You will have until August 26 to return any checked out items to the library. Up until this date, there will be no fines for any late items. If you are on campus you may return items through the exterior drop box at the library or mail them to Cullom-Davis Library, 1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625. If you do mail back your books, please keep your receipt in case a book gets lost in transit.

CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Bradley University has applied for grant funding from the Department of Education. The money from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund grant will allow the university to provide emergency grants directly to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The university is currently evaluating how best to distribute the funding under the emerging guidance provided by the Department of Education. Initial guidance indicates only those students who receive Title IV funds will be eligible. More details will be forthcoming.

New Financial Student Loan Initiative

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced a new initiative to provide payment relief for some student loan borrowers who are struggling to make their loan payments due to the COVID-19 crisis. This is limited to Illinoisans with commercially owned Federal Family Education Program Loans or privately held student loans, which are provided through a bank, credit union, Discover, etc. It does not apply to Direct Stafford Loans. Borrowers in need of assistance must contact their loan servicer or provider to identify the options that are appropriate for their circumstances. To determine the types of federal loans you have and who your servicers are, visit the Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at studentaid.gov/ or call the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or 1-800-730-8913 (TDD).

Scholarship, Grant and Financial Aid Eligibility

In addition to the Pass/Fail grading option for the spring 2020 semester, renewal GPA requirements for university-funded scholarships for 2020-21 will be more flexible. Bradley will accept passing grades (either letter grades above a D or a P in the case of Pass/Fail) as satisfying the renewal requirements for academic scholarships, need-based grants and all other forms of institutional aid unless specifically indicated by a scholarship contract. This more lenient approach to the renewal of merit scholarships is a temporary response due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We encourage students to contact the Office of Financial Assistance with specific questions and hope this helps ease concerns during this time.

Additionally, the GPA calculator has been modified to consider Pass/Fail options and help students and advisors see the potential impact on hours earned and grade point average. To access this calculator, click here, then click "Make a Copy."

WiFi Map

Illinois state agencies released a Wi-Fi hotspot map to help students across the state who lack internet access in their homes. As of April 15, the Wi-Fi map has 200 hotspots students can use to complete coursework. Students and their parents or guardians should continue to practice social distancing by remaining in their cars while utilizing the hotspots. If a student or caretaker is sick or experiencing symptoms, they should remain at home.

Wi-Fi hotspots are available at multiple locations around the state, including local colleges and libraries. To find a hotspot near you, click here.

Face Covering Do's and Don'ts

About a dozen states have made it a requirement for residents to cover their faces when they go out in public, while the rest strongly recommend it. Illinois is one of the recommendation states. Attached you will find a list of dos and don'ts from the Illinois Department of Public Health when it comes to wearing masks. Remember a mask or facial covering is not a substitute for physical distancing or staying home.

We are here for You

The Bradley squirrels are still milling about, the gargoyles continue to watch over campus from high atop Bradley Hall and Lydia continues to wait patiently in Founder’s Circle for you to return!  While life goes on, it’s just not the same without you. Here’s another video from some of Bradley’s faculty and staff who want you to know how much they miss having you on the Hilltop.

–Sent to Students on 04/22/2020