University Announces Plans to Welcome Students Back to Campus
On November 2, Johns Hopkins announced plans for an expanded return to campus for the spring 2021 semester, including limited on-campus in-person academic and residential activity. Current plans include frequent COVID-19 testing for those living or working on campus, continued capacity limitations, and flexibility for those who cannot or do not wish to return for in-person activities. University officials have cautioned that these plans are subject change with a final determination to be made in January. For more details, check out the recent coverage in the Hub and read the message shared with students shortly after the university’s announcement.
Additionally, mark your calendars on January 10 for a special Blue Jay Families webinar where we will further discuss details around housing, dining, and student well-being and involvement during the spring semester. To register for this webinar, please click here. Additional webinar details will be made available in the coming weeks.
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Checking in with Blue Jay Families During COVID-19
Throughout this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges and reshaped our day-to-day lives in ways both big and small. We recently reached out to several Blue Jay Families to hear how they’ve been managing during this time. Here’s what they had to say…
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For the Nwazue family, creating work-life balance has become a tangible issue. In addition to their first-year Hopkins student, Michael, the Nwazue’s have three children in the 12th, 11th, and 5th grades. What’s more, parents Ikechi and Olubusola Nwazue have both been working remotely. After shuffling some spaces around—Ikechi’s home office is now Michael’s study space; Ikechi has relocated to the dining room—the Nwazues also invested in some tech improvements. “We upgraded our internet package to unlimited data to ensure constant connectivity,” Ikechi says. “We also purchased four computers, a wireless printer with ink cartridges, and lots of paper.” But it’s not all work and no play: the family also has a backyard barbeque every weekend “to celebrate their successes in the virtual environment.”
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The Mukunda family has joined together to make a difference in their local community. As medical professionals, Dr. Beejadi and his wife Deepa saw the devastating effect the lack of PPE was having on residents in senior living facilities. Their daughter Amrita, a first-year molecular and cellular biology student at Hopkins, and their younger son Krishna used their respective project management and 3D printing skills to create and distribute face shields to people in need. “Krishna and Amrita established a nonprofit organization called ConnecTecHealth to help improve the health of seniors using technology and volunteerism,” Beejadi says. “The children were excited to recruit volunteers and gather materials for 3D printing. They were working around the clock to keep up with the demand.” So far, Amrita and Krishna have donated over 1,700 face shields to various facilities in and around Cleveland, including speech therapists at the Cleveland Clinic who provide services to young children.
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Fellow doctors Arpan and Monica Gandhi, like many frontline workers, have had to face the fear of bringing the infection home with them. For their son Aayush, a second-year engineering student at Hopkins, and his younger sister Aveesha, this has also meant taking on more responsibility in the home while their parents are on the job. But despite the stress, Dr. Gandhi offers encouraging words to Blue Jay families and students alike. “My biggest advice would be to enjoy the virtual journey,” he says, “and take breaks to connect with your friends too. Also, students, don’t be stressed—you will be back to campus and busier soon!”
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Resources for Online Learning
With the semester in the home stretch and finals quickly approaching, this is a good time to encourage your Blue Jay to revisit some of the resources available to assist with online learning:
- Setting Yourself Up for Virtual Learning Workshop – Co-hosted by the Office of Academic Support and the Office of Orientation and First-year Experience. This recording is available on their class Blackboard organization.
- Office of Academic Support Resources – This list includes a wide number of resources that aren’t just limited to online learning. Topics include time management, study skills, avoiding procrastination, notetaking, and more.
- Study Consultants – Both personalized and drop-in consultations are available. This resource has been especially popular with first-year students as they continue to adjust both to Hopkins and the virtual learning environment.
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Staying Safe During the Holidays
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. And while gatherings during the upcoming holiday season offer an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, consider how your holiday plans could be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe. As our community was reminded in a recent university-wide message, the greatest risk of spreading COVID-19 comes from convening large groups, so it's important to keep any gatherings small while continuing to wear masks, observe 6 feet of distancing, and, where possible, stay outside. Students living in the Baltimore area are also encouraged to limit travel outside the area as much as possible to limit spread in our community. They are also urged to get their flu vaccination. For more reading, our Bloomberg School of Public Health has also put together a collection of advice for safely celebrating the holidays, as have the Centers for Disease Control. From our Blue Jay family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
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Hopkins...Voted!
Thanks to all of our Blue Jay Families that encouraged their students to participate in this year's election! While we await final tallies on our confirmed voter rates, we know that undergraduates reported high numbers of voter registration rates and of having made plans to cast their ballot. In a pre-election survey of students' plans to vote, of which 82% of students responded, 93% of those who were registered to vote had either made their plan to vote or already participated via early voting. That is over 3,400 students who were registered and ready! Students who responded that they needed assistance with registering or creating their voting plan received individual outreach from Hopkins Votes volunteers to ensure they were ready to participate in the election.
It's such an accomplishment that so many of our young people chose to take an active role in this critical part of our democracy!
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Important DatesNov. 16Course registration for Juniors
Nov. 18 Course registration for Sophomores
Nov. 20
Course registration for First-Years
Nov. 23–Dec. 2
Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 9
Last day of classes
Dec. 10–11
Reading Days
Dec. 10
Spring semester bills issued
Dec. 14–23
Exam days
Jan. 4–15
Intersession (shortened one week to allow for an extended move-in period)
Jan. 16, 17 & 19
Proposed move-in dates for first- and second-year students who plan to live on campus
Jan. 19
Financial aid credited to students' accounts
Jan. 21
Spring semester bills due
Jan. 25
First day of spring classes
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Spring Planning Virtual Town Halls
If you did not have the opportunity to join us live for either of the university's recent Spring Planning Virtual Town Halls, the November 5 recording and November 9 recording are now available for viewing.
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Blue Jay Family Webinar Series
Join us Sunday, December 6 at 7 p.m. EST for the next installment of the Blue Jay Family Webinar Series. This webinar will focus on how your Blue Jay can secure research, employment, and study abroad opportunities. To register, please click here.
On Sunday, January 10 at 7 p.m. EST we will hold another webinar, Springing Back Into Hopkins, where families will have the opportunity to better understand the university's plans for bringing students back to campus this spring. To register, please click here.
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Counseling Center Offers Variety of Group Therapy Options
For students interested in a space to explore personal issues and concerns through interaction with others, the Counseling Center now offers 17 different counseling groups, including drop-in discussions, treatment groups focused on specific topics, and identity-based groups. Group counseling can provide students with support, feedback, and reflection from peers with similar experiences and also help them practice and apply useful interpersonal skills. Encourage your Blue Jay to visit the Counseling Center’s website and read the latest blog post on the Wellness Website for more information.
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Off-Campus Housing Virtual Fair Nov. 24
The Off-Campus Housing office is hosting a Virtual Housing Fair on November 24 from 12–2 p.m. EST. To register you or your student, click here. Participatig properties will include Academy on Charles, The Allstar, The Baltimorean, Broadview, Campus Square, The Charles, Icon Residences at the Rotunda, Jefferson House, Nine East 33rd, Remington Row, University West, and others in the Baltimore area.
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10 Things First-Gen Students Should Know
In recognition of National First-Gen Student Day, which was held earlier this month, the Wellness Website blog invited Abdur Sajid, a recent Hopkins graduate and first-gen student, to share a list of 10 things that first-generation students should know about Hopkins. Read Abdur's post.
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Residential Life Satellite Office
The Office of Residential Life has a satellite office open in Homewood Apartments that is available to the limited number of students who received an exception to live on campus for the fall 2020 semester. The office is located on the first floor above the main lobby, and students are welcome to safely drop in Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff are available to chat, check in, and provide overall assistance. Note that students will be asked to wear a mask, sanitize their hands, and show their green Prodensity badge when entering the office area.
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Visit the Hub for the latest university news and events.
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Contact Us
Be sure to also "like" our Facebook Page to find resources and opportunities for you and your student to get involved!
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