To: Wellesley Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: COVID-19 Response Update
Date: March 16, 2020
The past week has been a remarkable one for our community and for people all over the world. While we monitor the rapidly evolving situation, we are most urgently focused on protecting the health of our community and supporting our students as they grapple with the impact of these changes and prepare to leave campus.
Here are highlights of some of the most important developments:
There continue to be no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on our campus.
In the event that a member of our community tests positive for COVID-19, we will immediately notify all students, faculty, and staff via text message and provide additional guidance at that time.
If you have been or plan to be tested for COVID-19, we ask that you please notify the College.
New guidance limits gatherings to fewer than 25 people.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued new guidance last night, prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people. All members of our community should follow these guidelines and practice social distancing at all times. We anticipate that additional guidance will be forthcoming from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for colleges and universities.
Students packing and moving home
There has been a tremendous amount of activity over the past weekend as students, with the help of teams from Residential Life and Facilities, have been hard at work packing up and moving home. As of Sunday evening, more than half of our students had left campus to move home, with most others preparing to depart today and tomorrow. We are continuing to review requests from students who have asked to remain on campus and are communicating decisions as they are made. (These are the criteria for students who wish to remain on campus.)
We are working with Facilities and Residential Life to finalize plans for housing students during the remainder of the semester to ensure adequate social distancing.
Staying healthy during travel and at home
As students prepare to head home, Dr. Jennifer Schwartz, medical director of Health Services, offers advice for protecting yourself and staying healthy during travel and when you return home:
- Maintain the basics: Wash your hands. Frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wipe down your phone, which has been touched by dirty hands and placed on public surfaces.
- If possible, check in for flights by phone to avoid using touch-screen kiosks.
- Maintain your physical distance from others to the extent possible.
- When going through security, place your wallet, keys, phone, and any items from your pockets in your carry-on item. Do not place them directly in the bin.
- If you are able to select your seat, choose a window seat so that you are in less contact with others.
- Once on the plane, wipe down the latches, tray, seatback display, seat arms, and seat belt buckle, if you have a wipe. Similarly, wipe latches on the inside and outside of the restroom, if you have a wipe. Do not store personal items in the seat pocket.
- When you arrive home, put all your travel clothes directly into the wash without laying them first on a bed or couch.
If you are particularly concerned about someone at home (such as an older or immunocompromised person), please try to maintain social distance and consider self-quarantining for two weeks following your return.
Support for students
I am so proud of the way our community has rallied around our students to help them pack up and head home.
- The College has provided more than 120 students with financial resources to help defray travel costs.
- More than 578 alumnae have given to Wellesley to help cover students’ moving and travel expenses.
- The Wellesley Students’ Aid Society (WSAS) has agreed to provide financial assistance with moving and travel expenses. WSAS funds have already supported students with travel expenses and are also covering shipping costs for students with financial need.
- Faculty, staff, and community members (including a Brownie troop from Wellesley!) have donated luggage, boxes, and packing supplies.
- LTS has surveyed students about their technology needs and is working with them to ensure they have both equipment and internet access once they return home.
Study abroad programs
We have reached out to all students participating in study abroad programs to encourage them to return home and to offer financial assistance with travel. Most students are following this guidance; a few have elected to stay, despite our recommendation.
Room and board refunds and work-study
All students leaving campus will receive a credit on their student account for the unused portion of room and board. The credit will be prorated based on their family’s contribution to the cost of attendance. We will provide additional funds to students who qualify for significant need-based financial aid to account for the personal expenses that may have otherwise been covered using work-study earnings. We understand that many students and families are concerned about this, and we will provide specific guidance in the next day or two.
Finally, I want to end with some words of wisdom from the red class of 2020. This past weekend, several of our seniors remarked that in a world where change is the only constant, community is key to survival. Others talked about how this event has reaffirmed their belief in themselves as problem solvers—as the generation that will make its mark by transforming the world into a better place. Of that I have no doubt. The resilience our students and our community have shown in the past week has been nothing short of inspirational and gives me renewed hope for the future of our world.
Thank you for your support, your concern, and your kindness during this challenging time.
