Fall Semester Planning - March 25, 2021
Dear Simmons Community,
I hope this message finds you and your families well. As you know, I became president of Simmons during the pandemic, and like you I have longed for the day when I can greet you in-person on campus. I am thrilled to share that this day is nearly here. We are encouraged by the significant increase in COVID vaccinations across the nation, and Simmons is planning for a vibrant reopening of campus in Fall 2021 that includes in-classroom learning, at-capacity residence halls, and participation in on-campus events and activities.
We know that many in our community have been away from campus for more than a year, or have not yet had the opportunity to experience campus. Below is an overview of what you can expect this fall, and we will share additional details throughout the spring and summer that will help you prepare for your arrival to campus.
As we look forward to a lively fall experience, we are mindful that COVID-19 has not yet been eradicated. The health and safety of our community members and all those who interact with us remains our top priority, and Simmons will continue to closely follow city, state and federal health guidelines.
In-Person Learning
We are excited to return to in-person teaching and learning that enables students and faculty to engage together in the classroom. We expect that social distancing guidelines will be modified, allowing us to increase classroom occupancy, and resume valued in-person learning experiences. Throughout the pandemic, our faculty have worked extraordinarily hard to ensure students have a transformative virtual academic experience. We have learned a great deal over the past year. In some instances, faculty are utilizing this experience to update course designs to most effectively utilize in-person teaching and learning time.
Student Services, Engagement and Co-curricular Activities
Student Services (Health Center, Counseling, Accessibility Services, Undergraduate Advising, Career Education, Writing Center, etc.) will continue to be available in Fall 2021. In the coming weeks, we will share additional specifics about virtual and in-person appointments for these services. The Holmes Sports Center will be open for recreational activities, and we also expect a robust on campus co-curricular experience that includes activities and clubs. To ensure the health and safety of our community, we will share additional details in the coming weeks that will help guide student organizations and other groups hoping to meet on campus. Due to ongoing travel restrictions associated with COVID-19, study abroad programs will remain cancelled for the fall.
Athletics
While the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) will make the final decision on team competitions, we expect a year of exciting sports seasons for our student-athletes. Building off our experience this spring, we plan to conduct live, in-person training for all teams—fall, winter, and spring. In addition, we are planning to conduct preseason training for all fall teams in August.
Information for International Students
As an institution committed to excellence, we recognize and support the critical importance of international students to our full academic community. Our Center for Global Education will be reaching out to our international students with additional updates for the fall semester.
Campus Enhancements
We have utilized this past year of virtual learning to redesign and modernize our physical campus. A few highlights you will see include the new Student-Driven Media Center; new Multicultural Center re-located to overlook the quad in the School of Management; a new student services "One Stop" center that provides convenient access to the bursar, registrar, student financial services, among others; new flexible, light-filled classrooms; and casual gathering spaces in common areas, as well as welcoming lounge and study spaces. We are excited about these updates, which are designed to enhance the student experience and create a physical environment that better promotes learning and collaboration.
Health and Safety
We have been hard at work to ensure a safe return to campus, and we have implemented a variety of measures, including the installation of new HVAC in the Main College Building and inspections of ventilation systems on the academic campus; new signage; readily available PPE; and stringent cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting protocols. Public health guidelines, science and data will continue to guide our planning and final decisions regarding on-campus safety protocols.
One question that we have received is whether Simmons will require our on-campus community to be vaccinated. Because the COVID vaccines are approved for emergency use only, we are not requiring COVID vaccinations at this time. However, the progress our country is making on vaccine distribution is vital to our ability to return to an on-campus living and learning experience this fall. Because of this, I encourage all members of our community to get a COVID vaccination once they are eligible. We are continuing to monitor public health guidance on this issue and will communicate updates as we have them. Please email questions to [email protected].
While COVID-19 has challenged all of us, I am grateful for the resiliency and dedication of our community. Simmons is made up of individuals who are committed to building a better world through our learning, scholarship, teaching, and service. After our collective experiences this past year, this mission is perhaps more important than ever before. I am excited about the fall and the future we will create as we emerge from this pandemic. As always, please continue to follow university and public health guidelines that will keep us safe during this time.
Sincerely,
Lynn Perry Wooten
President, Simmons University