In keeping with many of the local universities, Shaw University will have in- person classes for the spring 2021 semester. As with other semesters, the university will continue to offer hybrid and online classes. For more information about or a copy of the Spring 2021, the University’s course schedule can be found on BearsNet.

Classroom seating will be arranged to maintain 6 ft social distancing between seats.

Contact the Office of Information Technology at helpdesk@shawu.edu / 919-546-8587.

Contact your advisor. Students can find their assigned Academic Advisor by logging into BearsNet. Once logged in, the student should click the Students tab. The top box will list the faculty advisor’s name and the student’s major.

Textbook and course materials are provided to students through an e-book program and book rental program (ACCESS). Information is sent to students shawbears email account. Students can contact moodlehelp@shawu.edu and Student Accounts at sa@shawu.edu for more information.

Yes, through the book rental program. Contact the Bookstore for more information shaw@bkstr.com.

The spring semester ends after final exams end. Visit the academic calendar.

Important dates for the academic school year are listed in the academic calendar and shared via students’ shawbears email.

Course requirements are listed on the University Catalog under Academic Schools. Your Academic Advisor will also share with you a program checklist of your required courses. Remember, unless otherwise approved, you must follow the requirements directly related to the year in which you began at Shaw University.

The Experiential Learning and Career Development Center provides students assistance with internships and career experience. You can make an appointment by emailing careerdevelopment@shawu.edu.

Step 1: Finalize Your Admissions Status

Submit all the required documents (i.e., your Background Check, if required, and/or SAT or ACT scores if you were able to take the aforementioned test prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) to www.shawu/Admissions-Forms. These documents may be emailed to admissions@shawu.edu or hand delivered, faxed or mailed.  For all students who are submitting final, official transcripts electronically, they MUST be sent to transcripts@shawu.edu.  Our physical/mailing address, telephone number, and facsimile number are located on the Website.  Please include Attention: Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Step 2: Complete Financial Aid

The FAFSA process begins October 1^st of each calendar year. The priority filing deadline is December 1st. If you have not already submitted your FAFSA and plan to enroll for the 2021-2022 school year, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa as soon as possible or download the myStudentAid app either in the Apple App Store (iOS) or in Google Play (Android).  There is a Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA site that can help you.  The Shaw University Federal School Code is 002962.

Step 3:  Register for New Student Orientation

Please register for new student orientation online at http://www.shawu.edu/Orientation/.  If you experience difficulty registering or have additional questions regarding new student orientation, please contact the Office of Student Retention at Officeofstudentretention@shawu.edu.

Step 3A: Submit Immunizations and Health Records

You are required to submit up to date physical and immunization records. You must submit an up to date shot record with your physical form. 

Step 3B: Pay Housing Deposit

Submit the $75.00 housing deposit online prior to New Student Orientation to secure on campus housing for the Spring 2021 semester asap.  Move-in day is January 15, 2021.

Step 3C: Complete Campus Housing Application

Housing is provided on a first come, first serve basis. Therefore, we encourage you to secure your housing as soon as possible. You will be automatically directed to the housing reservation form once your housing deposit has been received (step 3B).  Please be sure to pay the housing deposit fee of $75.00 before January 15, 2021.

At any time during the admissions process, please feel free to contact us at either: admissions@shawu.edu or call us at 1-800-214-6683.

Yes. The application fee is $25.00. It may be mailed in the form of a check or money order to:

Shaw University
Office of Admissions and Recruitment
118 East South Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

1.    Official High School and/or college transcript(s)
2.    SAT or ACT scores, if you took either test before the COVID-19 pandemic
3.    A Background check, if required, from your local police station or clerk of court office* *Available online at www.shawu.edu/Admissions-Forms
4.    $25.00 application fee

To ensure all your documents are processed in a timely manner and you are admitted prior to the Move In date in August, all outstanding documents must be returned to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment on or before July 1, 2021. These documents may be emailed to admissions@shawu.edu or hand delivered, faxed or mailed.  For all students who are submitting final, official transcripts electronically, they MUST be sent to transcripts@shawu.edu.  Our physical/mailing address, telephone number, and facsimile number are located above.  Please include Attention: Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

No.  Shaw University uses standardized test scores for placement purposes only.  However, test scores MUST be submitted in order to be granted full admission to the university only if you took a standardized test prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To enroll for the Fall 2021 semester, term, you must be admitted on or before August 1, 2021.  August 18, 2021 is the first day of classes.  The earlier you submit your completed application, the sooner the Office of Admissions and Recruitment can evaluate your application and provide an admissions decision.  Please ensure that you submit all required documentation at the time of application submission.

Yes.

If you have a GED, you may still apply. However, you will need to submit the following:

1. A final, official transcript from your GED testing center

2. SAT or ACT score(s), if you took either test prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. The phone number is 919-546-8275.

You may go to www.shawu.edu and click on the admissions tab.  Once you are on this site, you may complete the campus tour request form.  After you submit your form, you will receive a ticket via email confirming that your tour has been scheduled.

Please contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment for additional guidance on scheduling tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unscheduled group tours are NOT permitted.

No. Admissions staff are available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Yes. Shaw University processes all applications in the order in which they are received.

Yes. Shaw University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC).

All new students will register for classes during orientation.  The last Orientation will take place on July 2021.  If you have been admitted, you should be notified by email.  If you were admitted recently and have not been notified, please contact the Office of Student Retention at Officeofstudentretention@shawu.edu.

Step 1: Finalize Your Admissions Status

Submit all the required documents (i.e., your Background Check, if required, and/or SAT or ACT scores if you were able to take the aforementioned test prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) to www.shawu/Admissions-Forms. These documents may be emailed to admissions@shawu.edu or hand delivered, faxed or mailed.  For all students who are submitting final, official transcripts electronically, they MUST be sent to transcripts@shawu.edu.  Our physical/mailing address, telephone number, and facsimile number are located on the Website.  Please include Attention: Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Step 2: Complete Financial Aid

The FAFSA process begins October 1^st of each calendar year. The priority filing deadline is December 1st. If you have not already submitted your FAFSA and plan to enroll for the 2021-2022 school year, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa as soon as possible or download the myStudentAid app either in the Apple App Store (iOS) or in Google Play (Android).  There is a Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA site that can help you.  The Shaw University Federal School Code is 002962.

Step 3:  Register for New Student Orientation

Please register for new student orientation online at http://www.shawu.edu/Orientation/.  If you experience difficulty registering or have additional questions regarding new student orientation, please contact the Office of Student Retention at Officeofstudentretention@shawu.edu.

Step 3A: Submit Immunizations and Health Records

You are required to submit up to date physical and immunization records. You must submit an up to date shot record with your physical form. 

Step 3B: Pay Housing Deposit

Submit the $75.00 housing deposit online prior to New Student Orientation to secure on campus housing for the Spring 2021 semester asap.  

Step 3C: Complete Campus Housing Application

Housing is provided on a first come, first serve basis. Therefore, we encourage you to secure your housing as soon as possible. You will be automatically directed to the housing reservation form once your housing deposit has been received (step 3B).  Please be sure to pay the housing deposit fee of $75.00 before August 1, 2021

At any time during the admissions process, please feel free to contact us at either: admissions@shawu.edu or call us at 1-800-214-6683.

You must complete a new FAFSA each year to remain eligible for financial aid.  Financial circumstances change from year to year, which is why the federal government requires an updated FAFSA. You can also contact us at any time during the year if you have a major change in your financial circumstances — something that significantly affects your ability to pay for school. We can’t always make changes to your aid, but we’re happy to consider new information if things have changed.   

New transfer students follow the same application process and are awarded in the same manner as other students.

Our FAFSA Title IV Code is 002962. 

Once you have submitted your FAFSA and have already been admitted to Shaw University, you will receive correspondence (tracking letter) indicating next steps/missing documents. If additional information and/or documents are required from you before your financial aid eligibility can be determined and an award made, these requirements will be displayed in the tracking letter.  

If a student has legitimate educational expenses not included in the standard budgets (e.g., childcare or special family circumstances that affect their eligibility), information may be submitted in writing to the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid with an itemized explanation of the situation.  Changes may be made only with appropriate documentation from you. If unique financial circumstances exist, such as the loss of a job, please contact the office to discuss. Awards are made up-front in a manner that is equitable to all students. As such, they are not able to be negotiated and will only be adjusted in the case of a significant change in income as compared to last year or some other extraordinary circumstance.

Please visit http://www.shawu.edu/Admissions/Financial_Aid.aspx?id=1212 page to research answers to your scholarship questions.  

Yes. If you are receiving any kind of financial aid from outside or government sources, you must report the scholarship to the financial aid office. 

No. Parents are, however, responsible for the Federal PLUS loans. Parents will only be responsible for your educational loans if they co-sign your loan. In general, you and you alone are responsible for repaying your educational loans. 

 We hope many of your questions are answered either here or on the financial aid page of our website. If, however, you cannot find the answer to your question, you may contact us via email, by phone, or in person. This information is listed on our department webpage http://www.shawu.edu/Admissions/Financial_Aid.aspx?id=1212. 

If your household was impacted, for example, due to loss of job, unusual medical expenses, parent’s death, divorce, or student cannot obtain parent’s information, you may submit a special circumstance form (https://www.shawu.edu/uploadedFiles/Admissions/Financial_Aid/Forms/2020-21/20-21SpecialCircumstanceApplication.pdf) along with documentation for our review.   

Yes, we were notified on March 23 that a graduate student tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in home quarantine. The individual was last on campus on March 9, 2020 to attend a musical performance by the Virginia Commonwealth University Black Awakening Choir that was held in the foyer of the Willie E. Gary Student Center.

We also were notified on March 30 that a current employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was last on campus and interacted with staff and students on March 13, 2020. The employee and family are now quarantined at home.

We urge everyone in the Shaw University community who may be experiencing symptoms to contact your personal physician for treatment advice. The University is adhering to the recommendations and orders of federal, state, and local agencies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At the present time, the CDC has determined that people with COVID-19 are most contagious when they first become symptomatic. Therefore, public health officials are working to identify who came in close contact with a patient. Currently, “close contact” is defined as people who were within six feet of the symptomatic patient for 10 minutes.

As these contacts continue to be identified, the Wake County Health Department can assess their risk of exposure and implement the appropriate public health recommendations. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has information listed on their website about how individuals, businesses and others can prepare.

Yes, all students must present proof of vaccination. However, religious and medical exemptions can be granted. Learn more here.

Fall classes will be taught using two methods.

Method 1:  Totally online, available for upperclassmen only. No specific class day or time; work completed independently.

Method 2:  Hybrid of online classes with in-person interaction with faculty as well as virtual interaction. Classes will have specific dates and times.

Additionally, the University has significantly increased its WIFI bandwidth to accommodate the needs of instructors and students. The University also is working to provide all faculty with required technology for remote instruction. Social distancing and optimized cleaning and sanitation procedures will be observed in classrooms. For more details go to https://www.shawu.edu/COVID_Campus_Operations/

Classroom seating will be arranged to maintain 6 ft social distancing between seats.

If your household was impacted, for example, due to loss of job, unusual medical expenses, parent’s death, divorce, or student cannot obtain parent’s information, you may submit a Special Circumstance Form along with documentation for our review.

Request of academic accommodations for medical or counseling reasons must be sent to the Director of the Counseling Center. For contact information visit Shaw University Counseling Center.

Cleaning and sanitizing schedules have been optimized, and hand sanitizer stations have been placed at the entrances of every building and at elevators. Dorm restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected twice a day – product used is QC57 – Peroxide cleaner with disinfectant – this is a multi-surface product that has a 60 second COVID Kill time. The product also has a long-lasting residual hold time and is one of the few products recommended by the CDC for COVID disinfecting. In addition, anytime a cleaning request is made it will be addressed on a priority schedule each day.

We have increased the number of single occupancy rooms and will allow roommates under certain circumstances.

A limited amount of single rooms are available on a first paid basis. You may be assigned a single room according to when you paid your Housing Deposit.

All Move-In information (Residence Hall, date of move-in, and times) should be emailed to you starting July 28. 

All students are responsible for bringing masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies for their personal area.

You are not required to pay before you arrive; however, you must pay the non-refundable deposit before checking into the Residence Hall..

You may bring all required health documents on the day that you check into the Residence Hall. A box will be in the lobby for you to place these documents in. Please put them in an envelope for security purposes.

Our first priority at Shaw University is the safety and well-being of our students, their families as well as our staff. Please rest assured, your student will have personnel on hand with hand carts to assist with move in. However, in an effort to maintain safe distancing and limits on indoor gatherings, we will NOT be allowing parents, family, or friends to assist their students with move-in. We know how exciting this event is for parents and students but we must be diligent in our efforts to keep everyone as safe as possible. We thank you in advance for understanding and appreciating this policy.

The Shaw University dining hall will be open to serve students.

Dining services will feature expanded seating options, as well as grab-and-go dining options.

Your Department Head is the supervisor of the curriculum, courses and faculty for your major/program. To find your Department go to Shaw University Academic Affairs webpage and click on your program. Contact information for your Department Head can be found either on the specific Department’s webpage or by contacting your Academic Advisor or the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@shawu.edu / 919-546-8330.

Your School Dean supervises the Department for of the curriculum, courses and faculty for your major/program. To find your School go to Shaw University Academic Affairs webpage. Contact information for your Dean can be found either on the specific School’s webpage or by contacting your Academic Advisor or the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@shawu.edu / 919-546-8330.

Cleaning and sanitizing schedules have been optimized, and hand sanitizer stations have been placed at the entrances of every building and at elevators.

Governor Cooper recently signed an executive order relaxing requirements for unemployment. Some of the changes include:

- It removes the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment payment for those workers who lose their jobs.

- It removes the requirement that a person must be actively looking for another job during this time when many potential employers are closed, and social distancing guidelines are in effect.

- It allows employees who lose their jobs or, in certain cases have their hours reduced due to Covid-19 to apply for unemployment benefits.

- It directs that employers will not be held responsible for benefits paid as a direct result of these COVID-19 claims.

- It waives the requirement that people must apply for benefits in person; workers can apply for benefits online or by phone.

Each Shaw University employee must review the Employee Health Questionnaire every morning that they intend to work on the University’s campus.

If you feel ill, you should use the same judgment you would normally use about attending work, staying home or seeking medical care. Because the campus offices and services will remain open and operations will continue normally, leave policies will apply for work attendance. You should always notify your supervisor if you are unable to make it to work for any reason.

On March 18, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This law became active on April 1, 2020 and is not retroactive. This piece of legislation is intended to help workers, businesses and the healthcare sector in their response to and the consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The law provides free coronavirus testing, expands food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requires employers to provide additional protections for healthcare workers. The law also creates two forms of paid leave for workers impacted by the outbreak. 

Emergency Family and Medical Leave

The first paid leave provision requires private-sector employers with fewer than 500 employees and all public sector employers to provide employees who have been on the payroll for 30 calendar days up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave as established under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for “a qualifying need related to a public health emergency.” The law defines “qualifying need” as instances where the employee is unable to work or telework due to the need to care for a minor if the child’s school or childcare has been closed or is unavailable due to a public health emergency.

The first 10 days of the leave would be unpaid, but the employee would have the option to substitute available PAL. The remainder of the leave would be paid; eligible employees would receive generally two-thirds of their regular rate of pay for the hours they would be scheduled to work if the public health emergency was not occurring. However, the per employee paid leave under this provision is capped at $200 per day, or $10,000 total.

As is established by typical FMLA leave, H.R. 6201 ensures employees’ positions are job-protected until they return to work.

If you meet the requirements for either the Emergency Paid Leave or expanded FMLA, please complete the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Request form located on the HR Intranet.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave

The second paid leave provision within H.R. 6201 requires private employers with less than 500 employees and all public employers to provide up to 80 hours (pro-rated for part-time workers) of paid sick time for employees who are unable to work or telework, because:

- they are subject to a government quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19;

- they have been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;

- they are experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking a diagnosis;

- they are caring for an individual subject to or advised to quarantine or isolate;

- they are caring for a child whose school or childcare is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19; or

- they are experiencing substantially similar conditions as those specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.

The leave would be immediately available for all workers. Employers would be required to pay each employee up to $511 per day, or $5,110 total, when leave is taken for the first three reasons identified above. For the latter three reasons, employers would be liable for up to $200 per day, or $2,000 total.