Important Winter Term Update
Dear Students,
Let me begin by simply saying that I hope you are all safe and sound, and that you feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction about wrapping up the fall.
I know it was a challenging term, whether you were on campus or around the world. So no matter where you are, or what challenges you might have faced, congratulations. You deserve it. That said, I'd also like to invite you to take this time to reconnect with friends, family, and yourself, as we head into what is likely to be a bumpy winter.
I'm writing to follow Provost Helble's announcement about the delayed undergraduate arrivals for winter term. I want you to know that we all know how challenging this is, and we're sorry. When we gave you assigned arrival dates just a few weeks ago, the U.S., the state of New Hampshire, and even the town of Hanover, were in a very different place. Although we know that these late changes are going to cause you personal hassle, the delaying of the arrival time is a critical step in reducing the likelihood of an outbreak early in the term.
In order to make sure you have the information you need easily accessible, we have separated policy changes out by topic. It's imperative that you have this information as you will need to make important decisions and to adjust your plans. For ease of reference, we will post this message on our website at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/2020-2021-planning-information/community-messages.
Here again is what you can expect:
*CLASSES: Classes will begin remotely as planned on Thursday, January 7, and will end as planned on March 10th. Classes will be fully remote between January 7th and January 26th, until the arrival quarantine period is over. Exams will be scheduled as planned between March 13th and March 17th.
*TRAVEL: To protect against the risk of transmission during post-holiday travel, and to increase the likelihood that we begin the term without a significant post-holiday outbreak, all undergraduates, including those living locally off-campus, will defer arrival to campus and the greater Upper Valley community until the weekend of January 16th and 17th. Students with on-campus room assignments originally assigned to arrive on January 5th will arrive on January 16th. Students with on-campus room assignments originally assigned to arrive on January 6th will arrive on January 17th. There will be no early or late arrivals. Students living locally off-campus are strongly encouraged to adjust their travel accordingly as well.
*TESTING: All undergraduates - whether approved for on-campus enrollment, living locally and learning remotely, or living locally on a leave-term – are included and are expected to participate in our testing program at Leverone. All students should make Leverone their first stop on arrival, and will test again on day 3 and day 7 of their first week here. All students will test twice weekly thereafter, once on Monday or Tuesday, and again on Thursday or Friday. Our testing appointments system is now more automated than before. You will be able to schedule your own testing appointments for every week of the term, and will receive auto-generated reminders.
*ARRIVAL QUARANTINE: Under newly issued public health guidelines, the arrival quarantine period has been reduced to 8 days. During phase one immediately after arrival, all students will quarantine in their room or residence until released to phase two upon confirmation of negative test results. During phase two, from days 2-8, you will continue quarantine, but will be able to leave your room to pick up meals on campus (or curbside if you are living locally off-campus), and engage in solo exercise. On January 26th after the arrival quarantine period is over and all have been released, campus facilities will begin to open for undergraduate use, and courses that have an on-campus component will begin in the classroom.
*BILLING AND FINANCIAL AID: A 15.5% credit will be applied to the termly residential room rents and meal plan charges to reflect the 11-day difference in the winter term on-campus arrival date. The credit will appear on student accounts during the week of December 14th. Financial aid allowances for room and board during remote enrollment will be adjusted and available for viewing the week of December 14th.
The winter term refund policy has been adjusted accordingly as well, allowing for a 100% refund of room charges through the end of the first week following arrival, with a declining weekly refund percentage through the sixth week of the term after arrival. Dining plan refunds continue to be calculated on a pro-rated basis. See www.dartmouth.edu/finance/tuition/billing_paying_tuition/tuition_fee_refund_policy.php.
As the term begins on January 7th as planned, there will be no change in tuition and fees. They remain as billed. See www.dartmouth.edu/finance/tuition/billing_paying_tuition/fee_descriptions.php
We will be sharing more details and information about winter term planning, including support resources, co-curricular opportunities, facilities availability and use guidelines, and adjustments in our accountability measures, on Wednesday. Watch for another message from me Wednesday afternoon, plan to watch the Community Conversations broadcast on Wednesday at 3:30, monitor our 20/21 planning page at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/2020-2021-planning-information later this week, and send your questions to our new dedicated account at WinterTerm2021@dartmouth.edu
We will work with the Student Advisory Board, the Student Assembly leadership, and the feedback you provide to post FAQs available to all no later than Friday at 5 p.m.
The increasing rates of transmission and ongoing effects of the pandemic are challenging for us all. We are very sorry to have to make these changes, and we know they will be frustrating for many of you and challenging for some of you. But as Provost Helble reflected, your health and safety, and that of the campus and greater community, is our highest priority.
I will be in touch again soon. All my best-
Dean Lively