Dear Wellesley community,
I want to begin by thanking the entire Wellesley community, including our faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumnae, for all that you have done to quickly address the unprecedented circumstances we are all living through.
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday at this time the campus was a flurry of activity as our seniors—the red class of 2020—came together to celebrate their love for Wellesley and each other by organizing their own “fauxmencement” ceremony, complete with Hooprolling and Stepsinging. The celebration was a wonderful salve that eased, at least somewhat, the shock and disappointment of having to say goodbye so abruptly.
Today, so much has changed. Most of our faculty and administrative staff are working remotely, preparing for the transition to remote instruction, and only a small number of students are here at Wellesley. We are taking measures to ensure their health and safety as well as that of our broader community.
Thankfully, there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community. We promise that we will let you know immediately if we learn of a positive case. If you are on campus, we ask that you notify us if you have been or plan to be tested for COVID-19 so that we can support you and also consider whether you have had significant contact with people who might need to be quarantined while you await test results. If you are off campus and are diagnosed, we also want to hear from you so that we can offer moral support from afar.
I want to share an update of the most important developments from this past week:
- Most students have moved off campus and are now safely home. I thank you all for your efforts to make this happen on such short notice. Alumnae contributions to the Emergency Student Relief Fund—which totaled more than $78,000—helped cover travel expenses to ensure approximately 120 students could get home quickly. The fund also defrayed unexpected costs related to moving supplies, storage, and shipping. I also wish to thank the Wellesley Students’ Aid Society, which has been an outstanding partner in this transition, providing much-needed immediate support.
- Approximately 200 students, about half of them international and half of them domestic, have remained on campus. We are preparing to relocate them to five residence halls late next week, staggered in a way that both observes appropriate social distancing and ensures community and connection. Students will have access to common spaces in residence halls as well as classrooms in academic buildings and the Science Center. Dining halls in Lulu and in Bates will be open, and students will be able to eat in the same room, maintaining an appropriate distance. Our Residential Life staff, which has been outstanding throughout this difficult time, will work with them to find ways to build and nurture community.
- In reviewing the financial ramifications, we have recognized the impact of COVID-19 on all students moving off campus, with consideration for students with the highest financial need. Students who have moved off campus will receive partial reimbursements for room and board, which will be prorated based on a family’s contribution to the cost of attendance, as explained in Friday’s communication. Students who have been studying abroad should seek room and board refunds from their study-abroad programs. If you have questions, please contact the Office of International Study.
- We have announced a change in grading policies for the rest of this semester. The faculty have worked hard to transition to online instruction and create the best possible experience for our students. We know that students and faculty will do their best under these new circumstances, but in this time of enormous uncertainty, we felt that removing the pressure of grades, and providing a uniform campus-wide policy that treats everyone the same and removes additional burdens of decision-making, would be the best way to help students finish their courses successfully.
- Many in our community have expressed concern for our union staff members, given the significantly reduced operations on campus. I want to assure you that we are taking steps to support them. To offset the reduction in the need for dining hall staff, the College has created and posted 48 temporary positions in Facilities in an effort to maintain employment for all dining workers through the end of the semester. The College will continue to offer benefits-eligible staff leave benefits, should they require them.
There are still many decisions to be made, and we are working tirelessly to figure out the best courses of action as soon as we can. Here is what we will be working on over the next few weeks:
- We are considering how to address remote student employment for work-study and will have an update next week.
- We know many are eager to find out about commencement and reunion. We are giving these events close consideration and will reach a decision by early April.
- We are reviewing programming decisions for summer programs, research, internships and study abroad in the summer and fall, and we will communicate those in mid-April.
We are also working on a plan in the event that Governor Charlie Baker issues a shelter in place order, which would further limit our options.
Finally, as March 20 marked the last day of the 40 Days of Gratitude and Kindness, I want to take this opportunity to recognize all members of our community for their extraordinary efforts these past few weeks.
I am so grateful to our staff in departments across campus, who assisted our students and families, moved effectively to remote work in many instances, and showed patience and flexibility during this transition.
To our faculty, who are undertaking the Herculean task of transitioning to remote instruction next week and are sharing messages of encouragement and support with their students via social media and Zoom.
To our students and their families, who have faced this challenging time with grace and optimism and are already making efforts to continue build community from afar.
And, finally, to our alumnae, who have generously shared their time and their resources, and who continue to reach out to offer to help students in so many ways.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do to support and strengthen our beloved College community. Your resilience, generosity of spirit, and steadfast dedication to our mission is an inspiring example of the Wellesley way at work.
As we look forward to next week, I wish you and yours good health and good spirits.
With gratitude,
Paula A. Johnson
President
