Dear Students,
As we close the first week of Women’s History Month, I hope you are exploring some of the programs that are being offered virtually and in person. I also hope you recognize that you are making history. As spring 2021 residential students at Wellesley, you are showing the world that even a pandemic cannot stop your determination to learn, lead, and engage on a college campus. Indeed, your willingness to stay safe and make good decisions will determine how successful we will be to beat the odds and keep our numbers low.
Now that you are settling back into life on campus, I understand there might be an urge to socialize in large groups. I’ve heard reports that parties and gatherings at other schools have led to significant outbreaks. I hope that you can find a safer way to respect the guidance and still have fun. As a reminder, our Community Values Code of Conduct for Student Residential Living during the COVID-19 pandemic states:
“Students are expected to socialize on campus and are not allowed to visit the homes of friends off campus or attend off campus parties including those of non-residential Wellesley Students. Further, social events on campus must not violate the health and safety protocols (masks, size of gathering and social distancing).”
Other schools have had to go remote after parties—if that happened at Wellesley, we would likely have to go remote for two weeks as well. And unfortunately, we would likely have to send some students home. You came here for in person classes, so let’s not get to that point.
Today I have a few brief updates for you:
- Beginning next week, your scheduled testing appointments will automatically populate on your Google calendar in addition to the emails and the other places where testing appointments are listed. We hope the calendar appointments will be helpful to remember your test times.
- Students have requested that we review physical distancing in classrooms to ensure sufficient spacing. The Health and Safety Committee has confirmed that the Facilities team has reviewed the spacing in classrooms, ventilation, and signage to ensure safety.
- Students have asked that we allow for six person tables in the dining halls so that a full block can eat together. The Facilities department will work on rearranging the tables so that each dining hall has some tables that seat six. We expect this to be in place next week. Please remember to only use these tables if your whole block is eating together.
The weather promises to improve in the coming days, and I hope that you will get outside and enjoy the seasonal changes and take advantage of the increased number of Adirondack chairs, walks and trails, the Labyrinth, or the many other outdoor spaces and places. And most of all, enjoy each other’s company.
All the best,
Sheilah Shaw Horton
Vice President and Dean of Students
