July 20, 2020 Update from Dean Lively

Update from Dean Lively

Dear Students,

I hope you managed to enjoy your weekend. Summer has finally arrived in Hanover -- yesterday, in fact, was a balmy 95 degrees!

This is just a quick reminder that the priorities/preferences forms must be  submitted by midnight tonight. To preserve the option of possible on-campus enrollment, we need you to let us know what your preferences are.

Beyond that, I have just a few updates for today.

FALL COURSES

Some of you have asked how you can indicate your preferences for possible terms of on-campus enrollment without knowing what courses will be offered. On the flip side, some of you were asking two weeks ago how you could elect courses in July without knowing whether you had been approved for on campus enrollment. I know that each of you is weighing various factors differently -- as you should be. And it's important to remember that many of you have had to decide which terms you might want to enroll on campus before, without knowing exactly what courses will be offered. In fact, all of you who are returning did that when you established your first D-plans the third term of your first year, and some of you have continued to do it as those plans changed prior to the pandemic. And '24s will be doing just that next spring.

I know this seems overwhelming now, especially on top of everything else going on, but you can do it. Just ask yourself: When would I most like to be there given my individual set of circumstances and preferences? This summer, we want to be sure that you have accurate and up to date information about the timing and instructional format of all courses offered before you participate in the fall course election process, and we want to be sure you know what your approved on-campus terms will be so that you can make informed choices as you plan for your year ahead. You will have both on July 31st, in advance of the fall course election period for continuing students, that now falls between August 3 and August 11. New students will make their elections in September, in consultation with faculty advisors and undergraduate deans, as part of the virtual orientation process.

ARRIVAL AND QUARANTINE

We know that some of you continue to want more information about what quarantine will entail. With record-level incidence rising around the country, we can tell you that the expectation as of today, as posted, will be that students approved for on-campus enrollment will have assigned arrival dates and  times the week before classes begin, will be tested on arrival, and will go in to a 14-day in-room quarantine. At the moment, "quarantine" means you remain in room, meals are pre-ordered and delivered, and you engage with the faculty, your classmates, your student activities, campus resources, and other students - whether here or away - virtually.

Please remember, however, this could change depending on current conditions and health/epi recommendations - which is why we have said that more information will be available the week of August 16th. If we can responsibly allow some time out of room and out of doors following our health/epi team guidelines, we will. If doing so during the first 14-days puts the community at greater risk, we won't -- and you will be expected to remain indoors. We want you to be prepared for full in room quarantine if necessary to protect the health and safety of the campus and greater community, and at the same time we absolutely want to preserve the possibility that we may be able to provide some relief from that. Unfortunately, we can't make definitive decisions until we are much closer to September arrival than we are now. Much could change for the better or the worse between now and mid-August, and between mid-August and mid-September.

STATUS OF STUDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS

Some have asked for more information about the status of students who might be living locally off-campus. As we have said, access to on-campus resources and facilities will be limited by physical distancing and other health requirements. The access that will be possible will be prioritized for students  approved to be on-campus. We cannot guarantee facilities access for students living locally off-campus, and as has been the case since March, dining services will be limited to students living on campus.

For the health and safety of the community, students living locally off-campus will be included in the College's testing protocols on arrival - just as incoming graduate and professional students will be on arrival in early August. Students living locally off-campus will also be included in our other health/epi protocols, will have access to primary care and mental health services just as all students do, and will have quarantine and isolation support from the Health Service just as on-campus students will. We all share the concerns some of you and your families have expressed about stress and mental health during this period. Counseling staff, primary care clinicians, Student Wellness Center Staff and campus ministers and faith communities will be here to support you. Your faculty will engage you in learning, UGAs and Orientation Peer Leaders will be holding virtual group sessions and activities for new students, and all of our student governance, student activities, performing groups, Greek organizations and campus resources and programs will be offering you an incredible selection of things to do and ways to connect virtually with people who share your interests. We will help you through this time wherever you choose to be.

ARE YOU REQUIRED TO BE HERE IF APPROVED FOR ON CAMPUS ENROLLMENT?

No, you are not. In the past, you had the flexibility to decide not to come to campus for what would have been a planned R term, and to change your D-plan. That has not changed. No one is required to be here, and all of you can enroll remotely for any or all terms of 20/21. If you change your mind before the term begins, there is no charge and no use of the term's financial aid - just as was the case in the past. If you enroll and change your mind after checking in, you have the option to withdraw, and are subject to the College's pro-rated refund policy.

STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD

Our newly constituted 20/21 Student Advisory Board meets for the first time this afternoon. The twelve student members are a diverse group of students across class years. In addition to input from the Student Assembly, Palaeopitus, other student organizations and from all of you as individuals, this group will meet biweekly throughout the year to provide their insights on fall planning, new initiatives, emergent issues, and strategies to improve the undergraduate experience. You can find more information at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/community-messages-and-2020-2021-planning-information/dean-college-student-advisory-board.

THE BEARS

Finally, to change the subject, our latest non-COVID news from Hanover is that there are eleven mother black bears with cubs in town. At the Town's request, we put the word out late Friday afternoon to local undergraduate, graduate and professional students that the Town is tightening requirements for securing trash and escalating enforcement. For the sake of the bears - the well-known Mink and her cubs, the bear in the tree by Parkhurst last week and new arrivals - we are all hoping that opportunities for foraging for human food will disappear. There will probably be more news on that front in the coming weeks as well. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, in case you haven't seen our Parkhurst friend, check him out at https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2020/07/black-bear-spends-afternoon-campus. Make sure you click through the link inside for some very sweet close-ups!

We miss you. We are holding all of you close in our hearts as the news of the rising pandemic continues.

With all good wishes to you and those closest to you,

Dean Lively