Updated 8:05 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2020
Check back here often for the latest information concerning SBU’s response to changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New information also will be shared through the MySBU portal, SBU Alert messages and SBU social media channels.
Due to continued developments in the COVID-19 outbreak within the United States, Southwest Baptist University will move all course delivery online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Spring Break has been extended through March 23-27 to provide additional time for our faculty and staff to prepare alternative instructional and support strategies. Courses will resume online on March 30, and the semester will end on May 15 as originally scheduled.
All University-sponsored travel, including summer trips organized through the Center for Global Connections, is cancelled through July.
Anyone planning personal travel should monitor carefully the U.S. Department of State and CDC travel warning, health notices and advisories prior to and during any travel. For current information, visit the CDC Traveler Information page.
Off-campus, 14-day self-quarantine is required for any student, faculty or staff member who has:
These individuals will not be allowed to return to residential housing, offices, or to be on campus during the 14-day self-quarantine period. The self-quarantine period is your personal responsibility. Faculty will provide alternate academic plans to help students who cannot attend class during a quarantine period. Anyone required to self-quarantine should call (417) 328-1885.
Electronic resources are always available for students, faculty and staff on all campuses.
All fines will be waived until the fall semester. Local students can drop items in the outside book drop at their convenience. Students who return in the fall can return items then. For students who are not returning, they can mail items back to: SBU Library, 1600 University Ave., Bolivar MO 65613.
SBU Counseling Services is working toward providing remote counseling services. Services only will be available for students currently living in Missouri due to licensure laws. Students currently seeing a therapist through SBU Counseling Services will receive an email to their SBU email address with information about scheduling sessions via telehealth.
The Sanvello app from Ask Listen Refer is available for free download to everyone during the COVID-19 crisis. (https://www.sanvello.com)
Yes, the Cashier’s Office is available by telephone at (417) 328-1524 or (417) 328-1523 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
The Killian Health Center office is closed for patient visits indefinitely. However, Joyce Schmelzle, RN, BSN, continues to be available by phone, (417) 328-1888, or email, jschemlzle@SBUniv.edu. She can assist students and employees with health concerns, information, care advice, health education and questions concerning immunizations.
Yes, transcripts can still be ordered through the registrar's web page.
Only “medically necessary” appointments will be continued. Patients whose appointments are cancelled will be notified by the clinic.
In addition to our standard cleaning and disinfection protocols, we are adding new protocols to further ensure the cleanliness of all facilities. We already use a cleaning product daily that includes a disinfectant that kills 99.9% of germs. Throughout campus, we are adding the use of a Protexus disinfecting sprayer that uses electrostatic delivery and Purtabs disinfectant to kill germs and viruses.
Due to a statewide stay-at-home order for the state of Missouri, move-out from residence halls will be suspended beginning April 6 until further notice.
All questions should be directed to the Resident Director of the student’s residence hall.
SBU’s priority is taking care of the Bearcat family. One way to do this is by issuing pro-rated credits to student accounts for meal plans and housing.
Board (meal plans): SBU will issue a credit on student accounts in the amount of half of the semester charge for board (meal plans).
Housing: SBU will issue a credit on student accounts in the amount of half of the semester charge for housing costs minus half of the semester’s residency grant. Undergraduate students living in residential housing receive a residency grant to help with offsetting costs for residential housing. Because housing costs are being adjusted, the residency grant is being adjusted accordingly.
Credit process: The credited amount first will be applied toward balances on student accounts. If a credit balance remains after applying these credits, a payment will be processed by April 10.
For more information: Call the Cashier’s Office at (417) 328-1524 or (417) 328-1523 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 Monday-Friday.
Advisors will be contacting students who need to register. The enrollment schedule has been modified according to this schedule.
We’re still here for you. Our admissions counselors are working remotely but still available to answer your questions and help you walk through the admissions process. Contact your admissions counselor via phone, email or text.
We are still accepting students for our fall and summer classes, and financial aid is still available. Applications can be submitted online at any time.
SBU understands getting transcripts and/or taking the ACT/SAT is a struggle right now. To assist, SBU is temporarily moving to test optional and self-reported high school GPA for all admission. However, to potentially improve academic scholarship eligibility, students may elect to take the online CLT test.
Please contact your admissions counselor if you have questions or concerns.
If you have a question not answered above, please use this form to ask SBU.
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
Call your primary care physician. If on-campus, call your primary care physician or call the Killian Health Center at (417) 328-1888.
The spread of this virus is believed to be similar to the spread of other respiratory viruses. As this is also flu season, individuals should use proper handwashing technique and take preventative measures to avoid the spread of disease. Those with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette — maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your flexed elbow (not your hands) — and wash hands.
There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of getting any viral respiratory infections. These include:
It is also important for people to stay at home away from others if they are sick.
There are no specific treatments for illnesses caused by human coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illness will recover on their own. However, you can do some things to relieve your symptoms, including:
If individuals have a respiratory illness and have recently traveled internationally to one of the countries where a COVID-19 outbreak has occurred or believe they may have been exposed to or infected with the novel coronavirus, they should call ahead to the emergency room, clinic or doctor’s office before arriving. This will ensure health care staff are prepared for the individual’s arrival, and they will provide instructions to limit exposure to others.
Residents of Polk County, Missouri may use the Community Connections Resources Helpline by calling (417) 777-7411. This helpline is a resource for those needing help finding supplies or connections, or who have questions about living needs. It is not an information line for COVID-19.