July 31, 2020 Update

Good morning!

Let me begin by saying that I hope you are well, and that you're able to enjoy some part of the summer or winter months, depending on where you are in the world.

I'm writing to provide some context for the messages you will receive later today about your priority/preference form results and the first phase of approvals for on-campus enrollment terms. I know you are all thinking about  when you might be in Hanover, what the transition will be like, and how life will be different with physical distancing and face coverings, but first I'd like to reflect on our shared journey and what drew you to Dartmouth in the very beginning. What do you want to learn?  Who do you hope to meet? What projects do you want to pursue? What books do you want to read? What organizations do you want to join or create? How can you leave Dartmouth, and any place you find yourself, better than you found it?

Dartmouth is proud to admit the most talented students and we commit ourselves to creating the leaders that the world so desperately needs. As you begin to think about returning to Hanover for what is likely to be a remarkable 2020-21 academic year, what do you need to do or to learn to be the most effective leader you can be--be it from the front of the room, the back of the room, or from the middle? What mark are you prepared to make at Dartmouth, and beyond? Although these questions may seem esoteric, they are worth pondering as we all think practically about your return to campus--whenever that will be.

This message--right now--is not the one that provides your individual on-campus term options. That message is headed your way later today. This message seeks to provide you with the context to help you understand your individual on-campus term approvals. It also sets the stage for a number of decisions you're going to be asked to consider in the next few weeks. There is a lot here--because there's a lot going on. We hope that having this information will help you make the most informed decision possible given the ever-changing circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Here we go.

In my note to you on June 30th, I explained that the priorities and preferences framework was the first step in our process and would provide data reflecting the scope of demand for on-campus spaces by term. We now have that information. Thank you for submitting your forms so that we have been able to move this first stage of the process forward. For everyone's benefit, here are important observations about the results so far:

* More than 4,600 active undergraduates from all classes submitted their forms.

* While we are releasing results of the priority/preference framework for all terms as of now, we know that public health conditions one or two terms from now will likely be very different than they are today. As you'll see below, we have additional work ahead of us to finalize enrollments for each of those terms. This is our first step. We will have work to do together in October to finalize winter term, in January to finalize spring term, and in April to finalize summer term.

* Remember that those of you who receive approval for fall as an on-campus term are not required to be here. We presume you want to be on campus this fall given your priority and preference elections, and we are excited that we can move forward to plan with you for your arrival. If you do change your mind in the next few weeks and decide to enroll remotely, we will adjust billing and planning accordingly. Remember that an R in your actual D-Plan this year has nothing to do with where you are living. All R means this year is that you are taking classes, whether you are living on-campus, or anywhere else.

RESULTS FOR FALL TERM

* Within the priority/preference framework announced on June 29th and reflected on the forms you completed, all '22s, '24s, and incoming transfer students who confirmed that they were requesting fall as their priority term have been approved.

* For fall, continuing students from all other classes who listed fall as their first choice in their rankings have been approved.

* In consultation with OVIS, Financial Aid, and the Care Team, we have addressed additional fall needs that weren't accommodated by the priority/preference framework. OVIS staff will be providing updated information for international students and will continue to work closely on individual visa and travel issues with international students approved for fall.

* If we learn over the next several weeks that there are students who are approved to be on campus this fall who choose instead to enroll remotely, we may have the opportunity to offer those slots to additional students through a short waitlist process. If we do that, Undergraduate Housing will share information and timing about that sometime the week of August 9th. If we do run a waitlist, that process will close on August 21st, to allow sufficient time for students coming off the list to prepare for arrival and to follow pre-arrival health guidelines.

FOR WINTER TERM

* Winter was not designated as a priority term for anyone. All continuing students who listed winter as their first choice have been approved, and so far, we have been able to accommodate some of you who listed it as a second choice.

* If current conditions remain the same, we know we will be able to add more of you. At this time, however, we do not know what the scope of international student visa/travel issues may be, we do not know whether there will be athletic seasons in winter term 2021, and most importantly, we don't know what the public health conditions will be. We will return to finalizing winter term plans in October.

FOR SPRING TERM

* Our spring term demand is our highest. For spring term, all '21s and '24s who confirmed on their form that they were requesting their spring priority term have been approved.

* Other than priority term students, we are unable to confirm spring as an on-campus term for anyone else at this time. We will be deferring decisions on additional students who can be approved for on-campus enrollment during spring term in either late fall or early winter, the point at which we anticipate having additional information on potential campus capacity in the spring.  We will also provide updates as the fall term progresses and more information becomes available.

FOR SUMMER TERM

* All '23s who requested summer priority term have been approved.

* All students who requested summer as their first choice have also been approved.

FALL ROOM ASSIGNMENTS PROCESS

Those of you approved for fall on-campus enrollment will be receiving information from Undergraduate Housing later today about the room assignments process. We need each of you to respond as quickly as you can to provide the housing staff the information that they need to confirm your intentions and to make room assignments. The deadline will be Tuesday, August 4th, at midnight, Eastern time. Those of you who are members of Greek letter organizations, whether in College or privately-owned facilities, will be able to express interest in single-occupancy room assignments in your organization's facilities. All Greek letter advisors have confirmed that the facilities will be operated in compliance with College guidelines for this academic year. The housing form will also enable those of you who are committed to living locally off-campus to tell us that you are accepting your approved on-campus status for fall term, but that you do not need a room assignment (see below).

You will receive your actual room assignments the week of August 16th, along with critical health, arrival, facilities, and other related information.

STUDENTS APPROVED FOR FALL WHO ARE LIVING LOCALLY OFF-CAMPUS

Those of you who are approved for fall but committed to leases in Hanover and the Upper Valley will not be required to be in the residence halls this fall, as long as you complete the housing form by the Tuesday night deadline. We need to ensure that you are not billed for room and board and to ensure that we are including you in our on-campus testing plan, health protocols, and services.

Students who are approved for fall and will be living locally off-campus will be able to elect courses that have an on-campus component. Students who are not approved for an on-campus term, whether living locally or beyond, will not be approved for classes with an on-campus component.

As has been the case since March, and as previously announced, the fall meal plan and dining services will be limited to students living in residential facilities on campus.

ARRIVAL PLANS

This is important: Please do not make plans to arrive on campus at this time. We will be staggering arrivals over a six-day period the week before classes begin to reduce the risk of transmission and to manage the incoming COVID-19 testing process. You will receive your assigned arrival date and testing time in the information you receive the week of August 16th. No early arrivals will be allowed on campus.

COMMUNITY STANDARDS ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT

One of the defining characteristics of the Dartmouth experience is our close-knit community and the care we have for one another. That care will be particularly important this year. As we prepare to return to campus, we do so knowing that our individual decisions have consequences for the health and well-being of the community. The more we recognize that we are all in this together -- students, faculty, staff and community members alike -- the better our chances for a rewarding and enriching year.

All of you have seen the outline of the agreement that was included on your priorities and preferences forms. As with the priorities/preferences form, you will receive a unique link from Institutional Research the week of August 16th. If you intend to enroll in classes during academic year 2020/21--whether remotely or during an on-campus term--we must have your completed form by August 25th so that we can move to pre-arrival planning.

QUESTIONS

Please take this weekend and early next week to review the fall course offerings posted, and to prepare for the fall course election period that runs from August 3rd through August 11th. If you are approved for fall and have a specific question related to your own enrollment, it will likely be answered in updated FAQs that will be posted next week, and in the information that you receive from Undergraduate Housing. If not, we will ensure either that your question is posted with a response by the end of the week, or that we will get back to you individually.

I know this a lot to absorb, and far different from the usual rhythm and ritual leading up to the start of a new year. We all wish the circumstances were different. We will continue to work with Student Assembly, Palaeopitus, the Class Councils, the Student Advisory Board, House Communities and all of you to address your questions, and plan programs and activities that can create a positive experience for all--no matter where you are. As we've seen these last few months, we are connected by bonds that transcend our individual locations. We will continue to work to reinforce and strengthen those connections as we face these challenges together.

So as you think about what your academic year might look like, I do encourage all of you to use this time to reflect on who you are, what you want to experience, and what you hope to accomplish when you leave Dartmouth. Whether you're an incoming student or you'll be returning, the world is a fundamentally different place than it was just four months ago. What role do you want to play moving forward? What problems do you want to solve? What things are you willing to commit to changing for the better--no matter how large or how small?

I will be in touch again early next week. All good thoughts and all my best,

Dean Lively