Important new COVID-19 update related to leaving campus
March 16, 2020
Dear Students and Families,
As we wrote yesterday, the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation and efforts to mitigate it are changing rapidly. Last night, the governor of Massachusetts announced aggressive new steps, including bans on gatherings of more than 25 people and closing all kindergarten through grade 12 schools in the state for three weeks. We have a number of community members who are under quarantine because they have been notified by public health officials that they had close contacts with a person being tested for COVID-19. Other universities in the area have also begun to take more aggressive steps to limit operations on their campuses.
While domestic travel remains unrestricted, we feel it is imperative to accelerate the timeframe for when undergraduate students must move out of residence halls. We are now requiring all undergraduate students who live on campus to move out by the end of the day this Wednesday, March 18. This does not include:
- Students who have received a waiver to stay past March 25 (these are being granted to students with very significant health, safety, or financial needs to remain on campus).
- Students waiting to hear the status of their waiver application. Students whose waivers are then denied are expected to move out as soon as possible but no later than March 25.
- Students who can demonstrate that they have made firm travel arrangements for a date after March 18 but before March 26. HOWEVER, students are requested to make every effort to change their plans as many airlines, bus companies and trains are being very flexible with changes.
Beginning tomorrow morning and through Wednesday, transportation from campus will be available every two hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to Logan Airport and South Street Station to help facilitate the move-out.
All study abroad students are strongly encouraged to return to their homes as soon as possible, and should be making travel plans now if they have not departed already.
Effective Tuesday March 17, the library will be closed until further notice and there will be no in-person services. All library services will be delivered via Zoom or email. The return of material is not necessary until the library re-opens. Late fines will be waived as long as we get the items (books and technology) back. No material will be checked out. Only electronic content will be provided. For course material, requests will be filled through the Library Acquisition Form See the Brandeis library webpage for further details.
The Gosman Sports and Athletics Center will be closed for all recreational activities from March 17 through at least May 3. Students enrolled in Health and Wellness modules have been contacted regarding the transition of these courses to online offerings. Please anticipate other changes to facilities and services such as dining as students leave campus and in accordance with public health recommendations. We will communicate those changes as they occur.
Again, we realize that guidelines and policies have been changing rapidly, but we know you understand these are unprecedented times calling for unprecedented measures and perhaps patience. We appreciate your continuing flexibility and cooperation as we work together for the health and safety of our community.
Sincerely,
Ron Liebowitz, President
Lisa M. Lynch, Provost
Stew Uretsky, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration