When will Smith announce its plans for the fall semester?
The academic planning group, led by Provost Michael Thurston, is considering a range of approaches to our curriculum that prioritize safety, flexibility and academic quality. To help each of you in your planning, we commit to sharing our plans for the fall in early July.
Will remote work for faculty and staff continue through the summer?
Yes. In order to safeguard those students and employees living and working on campus, we anticipate that remote work will continue through much of the summer. Faculty requests for exceptions to the remote work policy can be addressed to the Office of the Provost, which will consult with the Committee on Academic Priorities; staff requests can be addressed to Human Resources. Please note that exceptions will only be granted when there is a compelling reason.
Can faculty access research labs over the summer?
While laboratory access is permitted by the state in its reopening plan, we are not prepared to grant such access at this time. Safe reopening of labs requires compliance with newly defined safety standards and protocols. Provost Michael Thurston will work with the science planning committee and the CIRT to develop guidelines for limited access to labs and will communicate those guidelines and the process for seeking access soon.
When will Smith make a decision regarding the fall 2020 semester?
The college will balance federal, state and local government recommendations, along with public health guidance, to determine any potential changes to the academic calendar. Should an adjustment to the calendar be necessary, we will contact all current and new students immediately.
Is Smith planning to open as scheduled for the fall 2020 semester?
We are hoping and planning for an in-person fall semester. Further, if a fall opening is delayed we are prepared to offer a full, in-person academic year even if the year therefore goes longer than usual or has fewer breaks. Nonetheless, we are actively planning for alternate scenarios in case COVID-related disruptions prevent us from gathering on campus for full, residential operations in the fall. In addition to considering a delayed start to the year, we are also mapping out scenarios that could easily be adapted to alternate modes of instruction.
What is the status of non-tenure-track faculty hiring?
Please see Provost Michael Thurston's message regarding non-tenure-track hiring this year.
Is the construction of Neilson Library affected?
Yes. While the Neilson Library construction project is active as of early May, strict safety protocols - including daily temperature checks - are in place.
Are summer programs canceled?
Yes. All summer programs, including the Campus School June Program; all external rentals of campus facilities, including those in the conference center; in-person Executive Education programs; and Summer at Smith pre-college programs are canceled through the end of August 2020. Please see the April 14 letter to the community for more information.
Will the School for Social Work program be held on campus this summer?
The Smith College School for Social Work will move all courses to alternate modes of instruction for summer 2020. Visit the School for Social Work website for more information.
How has COVID-19 and the college’s response impacted athletics?
Please refer to the athletics COVID-19 response for current information on the impact to Smith athletics programs.
Is the Campus School closing?
The closure of the Campus School has been extended to the end of the school year as per an April 21 announcement by Governor Charlie Baker.
Is the Fort Hill Center for Early Childhood Education closing?
The Center for Early Childhood Education remains closed until further notice.
Are campus buildings open?
No. Academic and administrative buildings are only open to essential employees. Residential houses are only open to students and essential employees assigned to those houses. All outdoor athletic facilities and gardens are closed as well.
Are on-campus meetings and events canceled?
Yes. The college is requiring that all in-person gatherings and events not deemed critical for continued operations be canceled or moved to remote delivery methods.
How will on-campus mail service and delivery be affected?
Students: As of Monday, March 23, mail services will be closing the retail and student pickup windows and will only be on campus to process campus-related mail. Students who are remaining on campus will receive notices and be able to pick up their letters and packages from the lockers at the Campus Center. If items arrive that cannot be loaded into lockers, mail services will contact students directly to coordinate a pickup time. Students’ mailing and shipping needs can be fulfilled at the Northampton Post Office at 37 Bridge St., Northampton.
Faculty and Staff: Mail will be delivered to the normal drop-off locations on Tuesday each week, however, ordinary sorting of mail at each drop-off location is suspended except in offices supporting a critical operation. All campus employees are strongly discouraged from coming to campus to retrieve mail. If faculty or staff expect mail crucial to ongoing critical operations, they should be in contact with their chair and/or manager to make appropriate arrangements. Employees who need to make regular visits to campus in order to manage essential mail functions must receive appropriate HR approval to do so, if not already approved for on-campus critical operations. Although outgoing campus mail will be picked up on Tuesdays, it will be metered and go out on Thursdays. If departments have specific mailing needs that are of an urgent nature, or would like to coordinate a mailing drop off, please contact Sarah Marshall at smarshall@smith.edu for assistance.
How will working remotely affect essential processes handled by the controller's office?
For information on reimbursements, payments, Workday processes and more, please visit the COVID-19 Reference Guide for Working Remotely.
Who should I contact if I have questions about COVID-19 at Smith College?
Questions about Smith's response to COVID-19 should be sent to covid19info@smith.edu.