Update from Dean Lively
Dear Students,
This message is primarily for those of you approved for fall on-campus enrollment, and for those of you who are living locally in the Upper Valley. We have several important updates, so please review this carefully.
ASSIGNED ARRIVAL DATES
As you all know, fall opening this year is highly structured and depends upon students arriving and getting tested at their pre-set time. We know this presents some challenges and inconveniences, but it is critical to our likelihood of opening and completing the term successfully that you adhere to the staggered assigned arrival dates and times. Although not ideal or preferred, we need you to align with this framework. Please plan accordingly. For students receiving financial aid and living away from Hanover, there is a travel allowance in your Cost of Attendance to help cover these expenses.
TRAVEL OPTIONS
We are continuing to work with the Dartmouth Coach to determine whether they will be able to add to the schedule. If you plan to use the Coach, please be sure to review their travel information at https://dartmouthcoach.com/service-resumes-sunday-august-16-2020/, and purchase your tickets as soon as possible to enable them to plan to manage the volume that will be needed.
Enterprise, our rental car partner, has been offering a student rental option over the last few months, which is available through the end of September. You can learn more about car rental options for students 18-24 at https://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental/deals/young driver.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvv7Mj__G6wIVyZ-zCh1gzALiEAAYASAAEgK73_D_BwE&mcid=paidsearch:40399656&targetid=kwd-891279313858&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIvv7Mj__G6wIVyZ-zCh1gzALiEAAYASAAEgK73_D_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!4824!3!452584290383!b!!g!!%2Benterprise%20%2Bstudent%20%2Brent%20%2Bcar!9615758375!97958675934&campaignid=9615758375&gclsrc=aw.ds.
Within the next few days, additional travel information will be available at
https://www.dartmouth.edu/transportation/gettingtocampus.pdf.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
If you decide you can't arrive as assigned or don't want to travel under current conditions, you may switch to remote enrollment. That has always been an option, as we've explained throughout the summer. We have heard from a number of students that they and their families have made the choice that they will learn from home. If you wish to make that shift, simply send a message to dean.of.the.college@dartmouth.edu confirming that you want to learn remotely. It will take a few days to process, but your bill will be adjusted accordingly.
TESTING UPDATE
Those of you who are approved for fall who have homes within the United States received pre-arrival testing information at the end of last week. Due to time constraints, it is not possible to include international students in that process.
As we said last week, those of you preparing to return to campus and those of you who are or will be living locally off-campus must be monitoring your temperature and health symptoms daily. If your temperature becomes elevated or you experience any symptoms of illness, you must call the Health Service at 603-646-9400 to consult with one of our clinicians.
Students with on-campus or Greek organization room assignments will be tested the week of September 8th on arrival. If you are among those living locally in the Upper Valley, your on-campus testing will begin with assigned testing times on Monday, September 14th. All of you will also be tested three and seven days after your first on-campus test, and will participate in regular, prescribed surveillance testing throughout the rest of the term. You'll be receiving more details about that from Dr. Reed at the end of this week.
CONTROLLED STORAGE UPDATE
As we informed you last week, Hinman Mail and Controlled Storage will only be available on a limited, pre-scheduled basis, following all college health guidelines and the framework below, beginning September 14th.
Hinman Mail will notify students living on-campus by email that they may pick-up mail and packages at a designated time during business hours, Monday-Friday. Daily capacity will be limited. Hinman will not release mail and packages on demand outside of the scheduled pick-up time.
Students approved for fall on campus enrollment who are living on campus may contact Residential Operations to schedule a time to retrieve belongings in storage during business hours between September 14th and September 25th. Multiple trips will not be permitted. As with belongings on arrival, students will only be permitted to take what they can carry in one trip back to their room. To allow for required cleanings between individual scheduled visits, daily capacity will be very limited and drop-ins will not be possible. Controlled Storage will not release belongings outside of the scheduled pick-up time.
Students living locally off-campus who are approved for fall on-campus enrollment may make controlled storage appointments during business hours for the period between September 25th and October 11th, subject to the same limited availability conditions.
Students living locally off-campus who are not approved for fall on-campus enrollment may contact Residential Operations to schedule an appointment during business hours between October 12th and November 6th, subject to the same limited availability conditions.
All should take note that there will be no additional on-campus storage at the end of fall term. As we have said before, students should only bring what they can carry themselves in the event of an evacuation. This will apply as well to closing at the end of fall term.
TOWN OF HANOVER UPDATE
Last night, the Town of Hanover Selectboard adopted a new ordinance, effective immediately. Among other provisions, the Town is limiting the number of people permitted to gather on or in Hanover residential properties, is requiring a designated host to maintain contact information on all guests, and will be requiring property owners and agents to provide contact information for all occupants on request of Town Health Officers. The Town has also indicated that local officials will be pursuing enforcement of occupancy limits in rental properties to avoid overcrowding.
For more information, please turn to the Town of Hanover website at https://www.hanovernh.org/ If you are living locally in other Upper Valley communities, please ensure that you are fully informed of local requirements that apply to all residents, and please be sure to adhere to them.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
We will continue to send updates as new information becomes available, and will
continue to post at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/2020-2021-planning-information/fall-term-2020-pre-arrival-information.
I'll be back again soon.
All best,
Dean Lively