Planning Update
Dear Students,
I'm writing to let you know where things stand in terms of winter planning. We are watching public health developments closely as we continue to prepare for a reduced enrollment winter term here on campus. As Provost Helble noted during the Community Conversations broadcast on September 30th, we expect to have more details available in the late October to mid-November timeframe. Our work to develop those details is underway.
Last week, we surveyed the upperclass students who were notified in July that they had received approval for winter term on-campus enrollment. Given how much has changed for individual students and families in the past several months, we needed to check in with those students to get a snapshot of their current plans. As I explained in our July 31st announcement, we expected to be able to add more of you to the list approved for winter on-campus enrollment. We've now confirmed that will be possible.
Here's how we'll proceed. There is a lot of detail here, so please read carefully all the way through.
WINTER WAITLIST
As previously announced as part of the summer priorities/preference process, first-year students will enroll remotely for winter.
Upperclass students - '23s, '22s, '21s and older classes - will have a chance to participate in a quick waitlist process for rooms in College residence halls or Greek organization facilities (both College and privately owned). Just as we did in August for fall term, this will not be a first-come, first-served process. You will have until 5 pm eastern time on Friday, October 16th, to place your name on the waitlist. All you need to do is email dean.of.the.college@dartmouth.edu. Put "waitlist" in the subject line, and simply confirm you want to be on the list by providing your college ID number. You don't need to explain or make your case.
Once the list closes on Friday, first priority will go randomly to those students who were only approved for on-campus enrollment for the '21 summer term. If there are rooms remaining, we will pull randomly to fill the rest. Those pulled in from the waitlist will be included in the final phase of the Housing assignments process later this month, along with those already approved. Room assignments will be made in November and will based on space availability - not room preference. Waitlist students will be notified whether they are approved by Wednesday, October 21st.
WINTER COURSE AVAILABILITY AND COURSE ELECTION
The winter term course timetable is scheduled to post on Friday, October 23rd. The winter term course election period begins on October 30th and runs through November 5th. Only those students who have been approved for winter on-campus enrollment (original approvals plus those confirmed off the waitlist) will be eligible to elect courses that offer an on-campus component.
A few other important notes:
STAGGERED WINTER ARRIVAL DATES AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
To reduce the risk of transmission, we will be staggering arrival dates for return to campus - just as we did this fall. Please refrain from making any travel plans until you receive your room assignment and assigned arrival date. As in the fall, students approved for winter will participate in a pre-arrival testing and health monitoring process, testing on arrival, and a 14-day arrival quarantine period. We will be sharing more details in November and December.
QUESTIONS ABOUT SPRING TERM
Our attention now is focused on completing the fall term successfully and preparing for winter. We will return to planning for spring in late January and February. We know many of you are interested in being here in the spring, but it is unlikely that there will be any opportunity for additional spring term on-campus approvals. Under the priorities/preferences framework the Provost announced as part of our process last summer, '21s and '24s filled the spaces we anticipated being able to offer. We will return to confirming that in early February, but we don't expect significant change at this time.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
As has been the case this fall, those approved for winter on-campus enrollment are the only ones who will be permitted on campus or in campus facilities. Whether you want the opportunity to be here this winter, or at any time this year, is your choice. You may always choose to enroll remotely, to change your D-plan if you are an upperclass student, to request a five-year enrollment pattern in consultation with your undergraduate dean, or to take a personal or medical withdrawal as circumstances warrant. If you are approved for winter term enrollment and decide to shift to learning remotely, your winter bill will be adjusted accordingly prior to the start of the term. If you make that choice after the winter term begins, bill adjustments will follow the winter refund policy.
CAMPUS SUPPORT RESOURCES
I will be back to you all again soon. In the meantime, for those of you who are enrolled (either on-campus or remotely), please be sure to let us know if you need support as we push through to the end of the term. The Undergraduate Deans Office (https://students.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate-deans/), Counseling (https://students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/counseling/about), the Health Service (https://students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/) and our deans and providers on-call system (after hours and on weekends through 603-646-4000) stand ready to help.
And if you are looking for things to do - remotely or locally - keep an eye on the Engage events calendar and follow the daily campus events listserv at campus-events@listerv.dartmouth.edu. Programming Board, Collis After Dark, the House Communities, the Hop, Outdoor Programs, student performing groups and the full range of student organizations are offering all kinds of ways to come together virtually and in person. From Bingo for over 200 to chess tournaments, paddles, films and workshops, there's a lot going on to give you a break from your studies.
Lastly, please be sure to continue to monitor your email for important updates. We'll be posting this message at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/2020-2021-planning-information/community-messages, in case you want to refer to it again.
We'll be back to you soon.
All my best,
Dean Lively