Universities across the country have transitioned to remote learning for the remainder of the semester due to safety concerns in the midst of the pandemic.
For most students, this means moving out of dorms and returning home without a chance to say goodbye, and spending the remainder of the semester in virtual classrooms. Instead of donning a cap and gown in May, 2020 graduates will most likely receive diplomas in the mail, with hopes of celebrating commencement at a later date.
There is no doubt that these changes affect college students in a unique way, turning many lives upside down. Here's a roundup of the policies that some Boston-area schools have enacted to transition students and faculty to a new way of conducting academics, and to help students cope with the many sudden changes.
Boston College
Boston College moved its courses online for the remainder of the semester, and is giving students the option to designate any of their courses as pass/fail. All students were required to move out of their on-campus residences by March 15, and room and board reimbursements will be distributed. Exceptions have been made on a case-by-case basis for students who need to stay on campus or cannot leave due to international travel restrictions. The college has made no decisions regarding commencement. A total of 34 undergraduate and graduate students who are off campus had tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 26.
Boston University
Boston University sent an email to students and faculty on March 17 announcing that classes would be held remotely for the remainder of the semester.
"Knowing that online delivery is not a substitute for living and learning in our academic community, we have held open the hope that we might be able to safely return to in-person instruction in the second half of April," BU president Robert Brown wrote in the email. "This hope now seems to be unrealistic."
BU required students to move out of their dormitories and said residence life administrators would work with students to get their belongings back to them if they were unable to return to campus. Students will receive a partial reimbursement for room and board costs. On March 27, the university announced that students would have the option to switch any, all or none of their classes to a credit/no credit grading system. The university has also decided to postpone graduation to late August or early fall, in order to avoid having to cancel commencement altogether.
BU School of Medicine will move up the graduation of fourth-year medical students so that they can enter the workforce earlier and assist with the pandemic.
Emerson College
Emerson transitioned to remote classes online beginning March 23. All students were required to vacate residence halls, with room and board costs prorated for the semester. On March 24, the college announced that it would be canceling graduation and finding a virtual alternative.
"The world we inhabit today is not the world we knew even four days ago," said Lee Pelton, president of Emerson College, in a statement to the Emerson community. "Although a virtual ceremony cannot replace an in-person one, I trust that the creativity of our community, and the individuality and indomitable spirit represented by the members of the Class of 2020, will make our event memorable just the same."
Simmons University
Simmons extended its spring break to give students time to move out and prepare for remote learning. Students may elect to make one class pass/fail. Commencement has been canceled, and the school is working on creating a virtual alternative. Students will be partially refunded for room and board. Simmons has also established the Supporting Our Students (SOS) fund, so that members of the Simmons community can help students in need.
"Gifts to the SOS Fund provide relief for alternative housing and transportation, mental health and medical needs, groceries and personal items, technology, and other accommodations to complete coursework," Simmons said in a statement.
Northeastern University
Northeastern sent an email on March 11, stressing that the university was committed to allowing students to live on campus. On March 14, due to increasing safety concerns, the school sent an email telling students to move out of their dorms by March 17 at 5 p.m. The university will prorate room and board costs. Northeastern will hold a virtual graduation ceremony on May 1, and plans to schedule events for students around the world once it is safe to meet in person.
"It is truly an anxious time for all of humanity," said Northeastern president Joseph Aoun in an email to students.
Harvard University
Harvard was one of the first schools to transition to remote learning. On March 10, the college asked students to not return from spring break, and only students with extreme need were permitted to stay on campus. All on-campus research has halted, except for essential research related to COVID-19 prevention. A total of 27 members of the Harvard community had tested positive for the virus as of March 27.
Harvard released a statement on March 12 assuring that "provided international students can continue to make normal progress in a full course of study as required by federal regulations, students’ legal immigration status are not in jeopardy."
MIT
MIT students were given an additional week off to prepare for remote learning beginning after spring break, on March 30. MIT told students to pack and prepare to leave campus until the start of the fall semester, with few exceptions. The school is offering mental health and wellness services to students and faculty who are struggling. MIT has also created two funds to assist the community— the MIT COVID-19 Emergency Fund and the MIT COVID-19 Research Fund. Donations will also be accepted to the pre-existing Student Life, Wellness and Support Fund. A virtual commencement ceremony will take place on May 29.
University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell announced they would adjust pricing for room, board and parking for students. Residence halls are closed for the remainder of the semester. Student will transition to remote learning for the remainder of the semester. Commencement has been postponed, and no plans have been announced yet for how graduates will be celebrated in the future.
