Brandeis' Plans for Fall 2021

March 16, 2021

Dear Members of the Brandeis Community,

Brandeis has learned a great deal about operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic from our successful in-person operations in fall 2020 and spring 2021. Our sustained low infection rates, the advent of effective vaccines, and our community's demonstrated solidarity in embracing public health practices give us the confidence to plan to offer a robust, safe, in-person experience in fall 2021. We have implemented many successful innovations throughout this unprecedented year, and we look forward to incorporating these into our classes and community activities this fall.

Many details will be finalized in the coming weeks as we learn more about state guidelines and the continued rollout of vaccines. We will be prepared to adjust our plans based on the latest science and public health recommendations, but based on current guidance, we expect a fall that will be more like the typical on-campus experience. This will include:

• Welcoming back all students — undergraduate and graduate — to be on campus experiencing and contributing to our community this fall. We expect all our students to attend classes in person, as offered. We will work to address the needs of students who may have medical constraints or difficulty obtaining visas.

• The majority of classes will be taught in person, using the most appropriate tools and physical distancing measures.

• The majority of our faculty will be back on campus to teach in person, to be available to advise and meet with students, and to contribute to campus life.

• Activities — clubs, sports, performances, celebrations — will resume in person, providing the usual opportunities for making social connections and enjoying college life outside the classroom.

• Students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Brandeis International Business School, and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management will receive more specifics shortly from their deans about those schools’ plans for fall 2021. Brandeis Graduate Professional Studies will continue to offer fully online learning experiences.

• We will remain agile and prepared to adjust operations or pivot toward more online learning should conditions warrant.

We look forward to the renewed energy our campus will experience when we all return in the fall. As has always been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our plans will continue to reflect public health guidance to ensure our campus remains a healthy, safe place to live, study, research, create, connect, and grow. We realize many questions remain, and we ask for your patience as we sharpen the picture of what our return to campus will look like this fall. We will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available.

Sincerely,

Ron Liebowitz, President
Carol A. Fierke, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Stew Uretsky, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration 
Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, Vice President of Student Affairs