Spring Break

Correction: Important Fall and Spring Calendar Updates

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This reposted message is a correction to the email sent by President Roth on October 5th.

In Monday’s message regarding fall and spring calendar updates, spring break was mistakenly noted as March 24-25. The actual dates of the two-day break, as listed on the University’s academic calendar, are Tuesday-Wednesday, March 23-24. The Office of Communications regrets the error. The below text is revised to indicate the corrected dates.

Dear friends,

With the first month of the semester under our belts, I would like to pause to acknowledge the careful planning, creative problem-solving and exemplary adherence to safety protocols that have allowed us to be together this fall. This is a proud and happy moment for us all.

At the same time, it is a precarious moment. We understand that the pandemic is still with us and that the public health context can change at any time. We are also nearing the winter months, when more time indoors and flu season could pose additional threats. With these considerations in mind, we have made the following plans:

  • Thanksgiving recess begins Wednesday, Nov. 25 and extends through Monday, Nov. 30. Classes resume remotely on Tuesday, Dec. 1, with all classes and exams conducted online for the remainder of the semester. Students with special considerations (such as international students for whom travel is not advisable or students who depend on Wesleyan for housing) may petition to remain on campus over winter break. All other students must depart no later than Wednesday, Nov. 25 at noon.
  • Students may return to campus for the spring semester beginning Friday, Feb. 5, and classes will begin online on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Students whose theses or capstone projects require them to be on campus will be able to petition to return prior to Feb. 5 on a case-by-case basis. That petition will be distributed at a later date, and consideration will be given to any petitions by those who feel their work cannot be done remotely.
  • We continue to review the risk profile for athletics and for spring study abroad programs. We will be providing updates in the coming weeks.

We expect our February return will entail similar safety precautions to those that have proved effective so far this fall: students limiting exposure and getting tested prior to traveling back to Middletown; an initial two-week quarantine period on campus (Feb. 5-20); frequent testing and procedures for supportive isolation and contact tracing; and a no-travel, two-day spring break (March 23-24), which will negate the need for a post-break quarantine period. When we return next semester, we must maintain our vigilance with respect to social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing. If all goes well, we expect the semester to end in late May, with final exams May 18-21. We anticipate hosting Commencement on Sunday, May 30, and will determine the celebration’s format, as well as the celebration for the Class of 2020, as we get closer to the spring.

We will be in touch with more specifics later this semester. These are challenging times, but I am heartened by the many ways that you have risen to these challenges. Thank you for all you are doing to care for yourselves and one another.

Sincerely,

Michael S. Roth, President

Update on Global Coronavirus Emergency – 3/4/20

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To the campus community:

As our campus looks forward to spring break, we are writing again with an update on the global coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We plan to provide regular updates going forward until the situation stabilizes. We have also created a new website with the latest information about the virus for the Wesleyan community, along with an FAQ addressing common questions and concerns, and links to other resources.

To date, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 at Wesleyan or in Connecticut. As the virus continues to spread through the U.S. and the rest of the world, the Wesleyan Emergency Response Team is actively managing our readiness and response to the epidemic. Health and safety continue to be the University’s top priority.

We are also closely monitoring the situation in countries around the globe. Earlier this week, we made a decision to close our study-abroad program in Bologna, Italy. Students in the program are instructed to return to their homes, and we’ve asked them not to visit campus until after spring break. Classes in the program will be offered online for the remainder of the semester. Students in several independent Wesleyan-approved programs in South Korea have also been sent home.

As many students prepare to leave campus over break, we urge everyone to make informed and thoughtful decisions about travel in consultation with their families. Wesleyan has made a recommendation that faculty, staff, and students should not travel internationally at this time. The Centers for Disease Control’s informative website contains resources to track COVID-19 cases by geography, advice for avoiding illness, and much more.

We are asking all faculty, staff, and students to register any travel beyond Connecticut—domestic or international—on this form.

As a reminder, Wesleyan’s campus will remain open over spring break. Students are permitted to remain in residences, and dining service and other supports will be available.

As always, no matter where you are in the world, please take common sense measures to stay healthy, such as washing hands and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

We will continue to communicate regular updates to the campus. If you have questions about services over spring break, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (860) 685-2772. Questions about study abroad can be directed to Associate Director of Study Abroad, Emily Gorlewski, at egorlewski@wesleyan.edu.

Rob Rosenthal, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mike Whaley, Vice President for Student Affairs