Dear AS&E Students,
Following President Monaco’s announcement that, beginning March 25, classes and other instruction will be conducted virtually for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester, we are writing to provide you with key updates related to housing, dining, academics, and other areas at Tufts.
We know that the changes implemented for Spring 2020 will present a variety of challenges to students, including academic stress, uncertainty around various resources, and possible financial strain. We want to make clear that we remain committed to all AS&E students, and to the quality of your Tufts experience. As we work to find solutions and provide you with support, we thank you for all the support that we know you provide one another. Faculty and staff across the University are here to help as you navigate this semester, and we invite you to be in contact with any office, department, or person at Tufts who you think might be of assistance.
Sincerely,
James M. Glaser
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Political Science
Jianmin Qu
Dean, School of Engineering
Karol Family Professor
Nancy Bauer
Dean, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Professor of Philosophy
Robert Cook
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Psychology
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Residential LifeAll on-campus undergraduate and graduate students have received information from Residential Life explaining that they are required to move out of their residence halls by Monday, March 16 at 3 p.m. and outlining procedures for doing so. This applies to all residential facilities, including woodframe, apartment, CoHo, and graduate housing operated by Residential Life. Housing fees, including potentially the Room Commitment fee, and financial aid for housing will be prorated accordingly. Thank you for your patience as those transactions are processed. Once a credit has been processed to a student’s account, they may request a refund through SIS for any credit balance, which will be transferred to their bank account, or they can leave the credit on their account and it will be applied to a future semester.
We understand that some students may have extenuating circumstances which would require them to remain in their on-campus residences for a short period after March 16 or, in rare cases, for a longer period of time. Students will have the opportunity to register to stay on campus after March 16 if they:
Students who believe that they will be unable to depart campus by 3 p.m. on March 16 must request to remain on campus by completing Residential Life’s online form no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 12. Please note that completing this form does not guarantee approval. Any students who are approved to remain on campus beyond Monday, March 16, will likely be relocated in order to consolidate the use of residential spaces. All Beacon Street residents at SMFA will be relocated to the Medford/Somerville campus.
Residential Life is working closely with The UPS Store regarding storage and shipping options for students who require these services. Information about these options has been sent by Residential Life to all on-campus students and is available on the Residential Life website.
Residential Life will continue with Housing Selection for the 2020-21 academic year as planned. All students with lottery numbers should proceed with housing selection according to the schedule on the Residential Life website.
Tufts DiningBeginning this Saturday, March 14, all Tufts Dining locations on both the Medford and SMFA campuses will close for the remainder of the semester, with the exception of the Commons Marketplace and the Carmichael Dining Center, which will remain open through May 8 with modified hours of operation and some changes to service. Students will be able to use meal swipes and JumboCash at these two on-campus locations, and may also continue to use JumboCash and Rhino Bucks at off-campus locations. Additional information can be found on the Tufts Dining website. The University is currently reviewing the possibility of pro-rating Meal Plan fees and financial aid for Meals plans and will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience as we make a determination.
Please note that the Spring Break Meal Money program previously offered to eligible students has been suspended in light of the above change in Tufts Dining services.
Other Facilities and ServicesUniversity offices will remain open; faculty and staff will continue to work as regularly scheduled; and, at this time, many facilities are planning to remain accessible to Tufts students, faculty, and staff. However, certain facilities, including all libraries, art galleries, and the Tisch Sports Center and Gantcher Family Sports Center, will be closed to the general public effective March 16. Information about access to facilities at the SMFA will be provided to the SMFA community via email later today, March 11.
Academic Advising and Fall 2020 RegistrationAs President Monaco stated in his message yesterday evening, all classes and instruction will be moved online beginning March 25. This means that faculty will assess and grade student work as originally intended in each course with possible modifications to the syllabus and forms of assessment. Classes will end on April 27 as scheduled, with the final exam period continuing as scheduled from May 1 - 8. Grades will be due on a normal schedule: May 11 for graduating students and May 15 for all other students. Information about review boards will be provided to the SMFA community via email later today, March 11.
Please note that the University will not be issuing refunds for tuition as classes and instruction will continue through the end of the Spring 2020 semester and credits and grades will be assigned normally.
All other academic dates and deadlines on the Academic Calendar will continue as scheduled.
- Fall 2020 course registration will begin April 6 according to the established schedule. Undergraduate students should consult their Advisors during the Advising Period (March 25 - April 3) via email, phone, or video conference to plan their fall schedules and release registration holds. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of their Advisors.) Graduate students should consult with their departments regarding advising and course registration for Fall 2020.
- The deadlines to Withdraw from a class or declare a class Pass/Fail -- April 1 for undergraduates and April 27 for graduate students -- will continue as scheduled.
- The deadlines for taking a medical leave of absence also remain unaffected.
Graduate students should consult with their program faculty and department administrators.
Issues Specific to the GSAS CommunityCommunications specific to all GSAS students are forthcoming. These will include more specific details related to research activities, teaching and research assistantships, and related matters.
Issues Specific to the SMFA CommunitySMFA will be distributing an email to all SMFA students later today, March 11, with more specific details related to studio courses, artwork storage, review boards, exhibitions, access to studio facilities and equipment, and other matters on both the SMFA and Medford/Somerville campuses.
International CenterInternational students are receiving guidance directly from the International Center regarding immigration and visa-related questions. The International Center will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. Appointments and check-ins will continue via phone or video conference beginning March 16. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of staff.)
Health and WellnessStudent Health Insurance coverage remains unaffected by the move to online instruction. The University is currently reviewing the possibility of pro-rating the Health Administration fee and will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience as we make a determination.
Beginning March 16, Health Service will remain open throughout Spring 2020 for urgent care only, with modified hours for students who remain on campus or in the local area. Please consult their website for their hours of operation each day, as they may be subject to change.
If you have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 or become ill yourself while away from campus, Health Service asks that you notify their office either by emailing Dr. Margaret Higham or calling the Nurses Station at 617-627-5154. Your information will be kept strictly confidential and may assist us in tracking the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning March 16, Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS) will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with modified hours for students who remain on campus or in the local area. Please consult their website for their hours of operation each day, as they may be subject to change. All students may also continue to reach the Counselor-on-Call after hours and on the weekend by calling Public Safety: 617-627-3030.
Students who are away from campus and are currently in care with a provider at CMHS may be offered brief counseling remotely solely as a bridge to a provider in their local area, or to telehealth resources, including iHope or BetterHelp. Those students will hear from their counselor directly through Tufts’ Secure Health Portal. Students who are away from campus and are seeking to initiate counseling can access telehealth resources, including iHope or BetterHelp. CMHS will not be able to initiate counseling with students remotely.
Student AffairsThe Student Affairs office will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours and is available to help all students coordinate co-curricular resources, supports, and services. Appointments will continue via phone or video conference beginning March 16.
Academic Resource CenterThe Academic Resource Center will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. Individual sessions, group workshops, and classes for Subject Tutoring, Writing Support, Time Management & Study Strategies, Academic Study Halls, and the EAP program will continue via phone or video conference beginning March 16. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of staff.) All previously scheduled appointments will be observed: tutors will be reaching out to those who have scheduled sessions with the new appointment format. Please refer to the Academic Resource Center website for more information.
Student Accessibility ServicesStudent Accessibility Services will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. Any student with an approved accommodation that has given their faculty their accommodation letter should expect that their accommodations will continue in the online environment. Appointments and check-ins with SAS will continue via phone or video conference beginning March 16. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of staff.) All previously scheduled appointments will continue: SAS will reach out to those students with the preferred format. The process for registering for accommodations will proceed normally.
After March 13, all exam accommodations will be monitored by instructors online (Dowling and Lincoln Filene will be closed as of March 13 at 5 p.m.). Students scheduled to take exams on or before March 13 should proceed with their previously scheduled plan. Students may check the Student Accessibility Services website for information about accommodations in online classes, any virtual workshops, and other programming.
Identity-based Centers All six Identity-based Centers will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. Appointments and check-ins will continue via phone or video conference beginning March 16. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of staff.) Although events through the Identity-based Centers have been canceled or postponed for the remainder of the semester, students are strongly encouraged to seek resources and services through each Center and are welcome to stop by the Centers before their departure from campus.
Tufts Global EducationThe Tufts Global Education office will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. All current study abroad students will receive information and instructions related to their program by March 12, and will continue to receive updates directly from Tufts Global Education. Information about the status of Summer Abroad programs and programs for the 2020-21 academic year will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
Career CenterThe Tufts Career Center will remain open throughout Spring 2020 with normal hours. Individual career advising appointments and drop-ins will be held by phone or Skype beginning March 16 and will continue through the last day of classes, April 27. Please refer to the Career Center website for more information. Students who have currently scheduled appointments should log in to Handshake and edit the appointment medium from “in-person” to “phone” or “Skype” and provide a phone number or Skype user-name. (Students remaining on campus or in the local area may also be able to schedule in-person appointments at the discretion of staff.)
All Career Center events have been canceled or postponed for the remainder of the semester. Students may check Handshake for information about any virtual events that may be offered. A follow-up message with more details will be coming from the Career Center within the next few days.
Student Services and Financial Services
Student EmploymentStudents remaining on campus or in the local area may continue to work at their on-campus jobs depending on the needs of their department and at the discretion of staff. Students who are away from campus and do not live locally will not be able to continue working at their on-campus jobs.
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