As we approach a fall semester at the University of Delaware that will certainly be unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UDaily had a chat with Vice President for Student Life José-Luis Riera to learn more about plans for the Blue Hen community and the student experience.

What does the Division of Student Life do at UD?

Student Life plays an essential role in creating and promoting the student experience at UD. Students come to UD for the excellent academic curriculum, but classes are only part of the experience. Students spend a lot of their time studying, participating in co-curricular activities and engaging with their professors and peers. Student Life is focused on enriching the time students spend beyond the classroom. That involves advancing equity and inclusion, deepening student learning and helping to develop students holistically. I like this line from our vision statement: Lead a dynamic student experience and vibrant campus culture so all Blue Hens thrive throughout their lives.

But isn’t everyone taking their courses remotely this fall?

Actually, about 10% of UD courses are being taught in person this fall because they involve essential face-to-face requirements, such as working in labs, performing music or developing hands-on skills. So, some students will be living in UD residence halls, and many more students will be living in off-campus housing nearby.

With some students on campus and others never coming to campus this fall, how will you keep the UD student experience alive for everyone?

The dedicated Student Life staff at UD has been working all summer to adapt campus-wide programming and develop new activities and events for our students to enjoy whether they’re on campus or not. For example, the very popular “Perkins Live” events will be held online this fall, with some great musicians and comedians, a game show, an escape room and other activities. We’re also going to hold a Virtual Involvement Fair on Aug. 31 so students can learn about and connect with the more than 400 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and fraternities and sororities at UD. In fact, our RSO leaders have been spending the summer planning virtual meetings, speakers, practices and programs. They depend on student involvement, so the teams are very dedicated to making this work.

What about new first-year and transfer students? How will you help them connect with the UD experience?

Our newest Blue Hens are a top priority for us. It’s essential that they feel welcome, included and engaged with UD, so we’ve been developing several ways to do that. We’ve adapted our 1743 Welcome Days programming so it fully involves students both on and off campus. The Virtual Involvement Fair is an excellent way for new students to find their niche. Also, we are collaborating with faculty to provide a great First Year Seminar and other mentoring-based programs. We’ll be providing many other programs and opportunities for new students throughout the fall semester.

How can students learn more about these activities?

The Division of Student Life created a new website, HENGAGEMENT, to serve as a one-stop shop for virtual and blended programs and activities for UD students. We have a lot of ideas and plans, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so all Blue Hens should be sure to check that site often for updates.

How does Student Life fund these activities and programs?

Students pay flat fees at the beginning of each semester to cover all of the activities and programs that are offered. UD’s Comprehensive Fee supports a wide range of services, including the Career Center, the more than 400 Registered Student Organizations, recreational programming, programs focused on diversity and inclusion, and many others. For example, the Fraternity and Sorority Leadership and Learning program supports more than 5,000 students in our fraternities and sororities. The Comprehensive Fee funds the Office of the Dean of Students, which helps students and families with a variety of personal and academic issues. Also, the Student Centers fee supports all of the virtual and in-person programs and activities at Perkins and Trabant student centers.

Will the Little Bob and the Trabant and Perkins student centers be open this fall?

Yes, though in-person capacity will be limited because of the state’s physical distancing requirements to help prevent the spread of the virus. We’ll be using these facilities for virtual events, too, so they will benefit students whether they are living on or off campus. Recreation and social activities are important elements of staying healthy and well, and we want students to enjoy these facilities if they can do so safely. Keeping our student-focused facilities open and operating now means they’ll be available to students when we are all back on campus together.

What will students be able to enjoy in the student centers?

For undergraduate and graduate students on campus, we feel it is very important that there are safe, physical spaces where they can work on their academics, meet with small groups of peers and enjoy the many amenities available. These include the food court, reservable workspaces, meeting spaces, the Esports Arena, the Hen Zone, the movie theater and a new slate of “Take it and Make it” events. For students who will not be on campus this semester, we have a full slate of engaging programs. Students will have virtual access to the WVUD Radio Station, a UD TedX Event, Homecoming Week and Spirit Activities, leadership speakers, emerging leader workshops, our BOLT (Building Organizational Leaders Today) Certificate Program, Quest Leadership Experience, and the BHLP at Home (Blue Hen Leadership Program).

Will students have access to the Career Center this fall?

Yes. The UD Career Center continues to operate virtually to help students find internships, job-shadowing opportunities and post-graduation employment. There will be virtual career fairs this fall and a full slate of engaging career readiness programs, too. The Career Center’s services are just as important during this time — maybe even more so, given the employment situation nationwide. UD’s Career Center can provide advice and expertise to help students learn how to conduct a job search and refine their skills to participate in job interviews virtually, making them more competitive in an increasing virtual work environment.

If students are not on campus this fall, why should they have to pay the fees?

All of these programs, services and activities at the University help to build and strengthen our community, which benefits every student throughout their time at UD. While this semester is obviously different than normal, we are still committed to ensuring that we provide everyone with a vibrant student experience, no matter where they are. Eventually — I hope very soon — we’ll all be back together on campus, and students will be eager to reconnect with their friends and make new friends through these programs. We want our whole community to not only survive the pandemic but to emerge even stronger than before, fully engaged with all of the resources that the University of Delaware has to offer.

But there will be fewer students and fewer activities on campus this fall. Will you provide a refund?

Yes. Knowing that activities and usage are lower than normal right now, the University will refund 15% of students’ Comprehensive Fee for the fall semester. This will bring it lower than the rate charged in the 2019-20 academic year. To help students and their families during this financially difficult time, the Student Centers fee was already frozen at last year’s rate. It’s important to remember that much of the University’s costs — for utilities, staff, cleaning and maintenance of student facilities — will not decrease this fall. At the same time, other costs are rising because we have to do more cleaning and provide more staff to ensure that all of our students, faculty and staff remain safe and healthy in the many environments where we live and learn.

What about the graduate students? Will they be receiving any discount to their fees?

The Comprehensive Fee supports mainly undergraduate students, so graduate students do not pay this fee. Instead, graduate students pay a Recreation Fee to support the recreation facilities. In the same way that the University is refunding the Comprehensive Fee for undergraduates, we will refund 15% of the Graduate Recreation Fee for the fall semester.

What about the Student Wellbeing Fee?

The Student Wellbeing Fee will not be discounted this semester because the services supported by this fee continue to benefit every full-time student, whether in person or virtually. In the past several months, the need for health services for our students has increased substantially. The Center for Counseling and Student Development has been extremely busy throughout the pandemic, helping students cope with isolation, loneliness, substance abuse and other issues. Student Health Services remains open and available to students for physical health care services, including consultations with specialists such as nutritionists, sports medicine experts, women’s health clinicians and travel advisors. Also, Student Wellness and Health Promotion (SWHP) provides substance-abuse education and wellness programs and facilitates the Sexual Offense Support network of certified victim advocates, among many other services. SWHP is also working with partners throughout UD to encourage students to adhere to new COVID-related requirements of face coverings, social distancing and other behaviors. What’s more, the Student Wellbeing Fee also supports new programming at Warner Hall, which is currently being renovated as UD’s Wellbeing Center and is set to open in the spring. The Student Wellbeing Fee for 2020-21 was carefully evaluated, knowing that the need for all of these services has been increasing in recent years.

Given all of these changes for the fall semester, what will you do for the spring semester

Throughout the fall, we’ll see what works and how we can improve our efforts. I don’t know exactly what the spring semester will look like. Unfortunately, no one does. But I can tell you that we’ll always be committed to providing a great experience for every Blue Hen. Leading our students to success — both inside and outside the classroom — is one of the most important jobs for every person at UD, and I’m proud of the way the Division of Student Life is contributing to that essential work.