and the college’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smith College A Culture of Care
COVID-19 Response Plan
Throughout the spring and early summer of 2020, staff, students and faculty across the college worked to construct a plan for Smith’s response to COVID-19—a plan with health and safety, students’ education and the Smith experience at the center. That plan, titled “A Culture of Care,” underscores the core value that must guide every person living and learning on our campus—caring for ourselves and for one another.
Please check this site often, as Smith’s plan will evolve in response to emerging local, state and federal public health guidance.
Announcements
Arrival and Quarantine Guidance
Updated arrival and quarantine guidance is available for students and families/guardians planning for a return to campus.
New Student Program Changes
Advising, registration and orientation for new students are being rescheduled and adapted for a mix of in-person and remote delivery.
President McCartney and Others: Please Wear a Mask
President Kathleen McCartney joins local leaders in op-ed to support mask wearing in Northampton.
Smith Announces Plan for Fall 2020
President McCartney provided an update on the plan for the coming year.
A Multimodal Learning Model
Most classes will be simultaneously delivered in-person and remotely to accommodate all students.
See: Academic Planning
A Smaller Residential Population
With few exceptions, only first-year students, sophomores, January graduates, new transfer students and Ada Comstock Scholars with campus housing will be invited to be in residence for the fall semester. Juniors, seniors, new transfer students and Ada Comstock Scholars with campus housing will be invited to be in residence for the spring semester. All student rooms will be converted to single occupancy.
See: Residence Life
A Robust Testing and Monitoring Plan
All students and student-facing staff and faculty on campus will be tested for COVID-19 as often as twice per week, at no cost.
See: Health & Safety
A New Academic Calendar
First-year students will arrive via a staggered schedule for an abbreviated orientation; move-in dates will be sent to students in early July. Classes will begin September 1, 2020, and will be a combination of in person and remote up until Thanksgiving. In-person classes end on November 24 and on-campus housing closes on November 25 at 10 a.m. Remote classes will begin after Thanksgiving break and end December 17.
See: Academic Planning
A Flexible Schedule
Students may elect to take three—versus four—courses in the fall term, for a total of 12 credits, and will have the opportunity to take an additional four credits during a six-week, remote-only January/February Interterm.
See: Academic Planning
| September 1–November 24, 2020 | November 25–December 17, 2020 | Winter Break | Interterm | Spring Semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Years | In residence | Not in residence | |||
| Sophomores | In residence | Not in residence | |||
| Juniors | Not in residence | In residence | |||
| Seniors | Not in residence | In residence | |||
| January Graduates | In residence | Not in residence | |||
| Select Student Leadership | In residence | Not in residence | In residence | ||
| New Transfers | In residence | Not in residence | In residence | ||
| Students With Extraordinary Circumstances | In residence and by application only | ||||
| Adas in On-Campus Housing | In residence | ||||
| Graduate and Special Studies Students in On-Campus Housing | In residence | ||||
| Building Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Administrative Buildings | Closed to the public. On-campus employee and student access only. |
| Campus Center | Closed to the public. Limited hours and capacity. |
| Campus Center Café | Open for pre-order and take-out only. |
| Campus Center Post Office | Information to come. |
| Conference Center | No external events or visitors. |
| Libraries | Closed to the public. Contactless pickup only, see details. |
| Lyman Plant House | Closed to all visitors. Academic use only by approval. |
| Residential Houses | Only open to students assigned to each house with limits on non-resident students. No off-campus or overnight guests. |
| Smith College Museum of Art | Closed to all visitors. Academic use only by approval. |
| Student Affinity Spaces | Unity House, Helen Hills Hills Chapel, Kosher Kitchen, the Mwangi Cultural Center, and the Resource Center for Sexuality and Gender are open with limited hours and capacity. |
| Print and Copy Services | Open for Smith production needs. Contact copyprint@smith.edu. |
| Center for Early Childhood Education | Opening mid-August with amended schedules and polices. |
| Campus School | Information to come. |
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 1 | Classes begin |
| November 24 | Last day of on-campus instruction and residency |
| November 30 | All-remote instruction begins |
| December 4 | Last day of instruction |
| January 4–Feb 11 | Interterm instruction (remote) |
Physical Distancing
Stay 6 feet (2 meters) from others at all times.
Face Masks
Wear a well-fitted face mask or approved face covering at all times on the central campus, unless you are alone in your individual room or office.
Handwashing or Sanitizing
Clean your hands when transitioning from one space to another.
Health Monitoring
Monitor your health daily. Check for symptoms on the list provided by the college.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces
Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces. The college will supply cleaning products.
If Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms
Students: Contact the Schacht Center.
Employees & off-campus students: Stay away from campus and call your healthcare provider.
CIRT Membership
- Anne-Marie Szmyt, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
- Borjana Mikic, Associate Dean for Integrative Learning
- David DeSwert, Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Dano Weisbord, Executive Director of Sustainability and Campus Planning
- Julianne D. Ohotnicky, Associate Dean of the College/Dean of Students
- Joanna Olin, Chief of Staff
- James Gray, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Operations
- Marianne Yoshioka, Dean of the Smith College School for Social Work
- Samuel Masinter, Interim Vice President for Public Affairs
- Samantha Earp, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
- Hélène Visentin, Associate Dean of the Faculty
- Kris Evans, Interim Director of Schacht Center for Health and Wellness
Finance Membership
- Membership: Members of ACRA/CMP
- Kathleen McCartney, President, Chair
- David DeSwert, VP for Finance and Administration, Chair
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Vice Chair
- Camille Bacon ’21, SGA selected representative
- Darcy Buerkle, Associate Professor of History and Faculty Council
- Betsy Carpenter, Associate Vice President for Development
- Samantha Earp, Vice President for Information Technology
- Rick Fantasia, Barbara Richmond 1940 Professor in the Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology and Faculty Council
- Laurie Fenlason, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
- Bosiljka Glumac, Professor of Geosciences and Faculty Council
- Kate Gola, Director of Budgets and Financial Planning
- Saari Greylock, Senior Academic Budget Manager
- Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics
- Susan Levin, Roe/Straut Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy
- Mahnaz Mahdavi, Professor of Economics and Faculty Council
- Katie McGarry AC, SGA selected representative
- Esther Mejia ’21, SGA President
- Borjana Mikic, Associate Dean for Integrative Learning
- Madelyn Neely, Administrative Coordinator School for Social Work
- Joanna Olin, Chief of Staff
- Bill Peterson, Associate Provost and Dean of Faculty
- Beth Raffeld, Senior Vice President for Alumnae Relations and Development
- Danielle Carr Ramdath, Dean of the Senior Class
- John Singler, Associate Vice President for ITS (Enterprise Application & Data Services)
- Audrey Smith, Vice President for Enrollment
- Anne-Marie Szmyt, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
- Baishakhi Taylor, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of the College
- Hélène Visentin, Professor of French Studies and Associate Dean of the Faculty/Dean for Academic Development
- Susan Voss, Chaired Professor of Engineering
- Frazer Ward, Associate Professor of Art and Faculty Council Chair
- Dano Weisbord, Executive Director, Sustainability and Campus Planning
- Greg White, Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government
Enrollment and Financial Aid Membership
- Audrey Smith, Vice President for Enrollment, Chair
- Dave Belanger, Director of Student Financial Service
- Gretchen Herringer, Registrar
- Danielle Carr Ramdath, Dean of the Senior Class and Associate Dean of the College
- Kate Gola, Director of Budgets and Financial Planning
- Julie Ohotnicky, Dean of Students and Associate Dean of the College
- Rebecca Hovey, Dean for International Study
- Hélène Visentin, Associate Dean of the Faculty
Academic Program Membership
- Michael Barresi, Professor of Biological Sciences
- Samantha Earp, Vice President for Information Technology
- Michael Gorra, Mary Augusta Jordan Professor of English Language and Literature
- Gretchen Herringer, Registrar
- Susan Levin, Roe/Straut Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy
- Sara Pruss, Professor of Geosciences and Director of the Sherrerd Center for Teaching & Learning
- Danielle Ramdath, Dean of the Senior Class and Associate Dean of the College
- Michael Thurston, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Chair
- Susan Voss, Achilles Professor of Engineering
- Dano Weisbord, Executive Director, Sustainability and Campus Planning
- Greg White, Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government
Campus Life Membership
- Baishakhi Taylor, Dean of the College and Vice President for Campus Life, Co-Chair
- Julie Ohotnicky, Dean of Students and Associate Dean of the College, Co-Chair
- Floyd Cheung, Vice president for Inclusion and Equity
- Scott Richards, Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Grounds
- Andy Cox, Director of Dining Services
- Hannah Durrant, Director of Residence Life
- Kris Mereigh, Associate Director, Wellness Education
- Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics
Health Practices Membership
- Kris Evans, Interim Director of the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness, Associate Director for Counseling Services, Co-Chair
- Jim Gray, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Operations, Co-Chair
- Tara Dumont, College Physician
- Laura Rauscher, Disability Services Director
- Benita Jackson, Professor of Psychology
- Rob Dorit, Professor of Biological Sciences
- Corey Lynch, Environmental Health & Safety Manager