*Published on March 14, 2020*
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We are writing to clarify some important information and answer questions about our request that students move out of Northeastern residence halls in Boston by Tuesday at 5:00 pm. We are aware that this will require students and their families to act expeditiously; the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic requires that we take action to protect public health. In addition, new restrictions on international travel—and possible restrictions on travel within the U.S.—have led to this increased urgency.
Special circumstances: As stated previously, any student who is concerned about their ability to move out by Tuesday—or has other concerns— should email wecare@northeastern.edu. They can also call the university’s call center at 617-373-2000. Please note that we are adding additional WeCare staff to assist the large number of student and parent requests.
International students: We are fully aware that international students will have particular challenges based on the circumstances in their home countries and new travel restrictions. Like all students with specific hardships, international students can petition the university to remain in residence halls; each case will receive individual attention.
Housing costs: Room and board costs will be pro-rated for the remainder of the semester for all students leaving campus. Additional information on processing refunds will be forthcoming. For students who have already left Boston, Res Life and Housing will make arrangements to store students’ belongings. Please contact Housing at housing@northeastern.edu to make arrangements. Storage and shipping resources and moving support are available through Tuesday.
No classes Monday and Tuesday: To ease the move out process, and allow time for students to travel home, we will be suspending classes in Boston on Monday and Tuesday. All classes—now in online or remote formats—will resume on Wednesday. Faculty are asked to demonstrate flexibility in the timing of assignments in light of these unique circumstances.
Co-op: Students currently on co-op are included in the request to move out of residence halls. The rationale for this request is based on strong public health guidance, irrespective of current semester status. Students in residence halls should speak to their co-op employers about remote work if they haven’t already. Any student who has to conclude a co-op experience early because their employer will not allow remote work can be assured that they will receive the appropriate credit. Students with specific questions on implications for their co-ops—such as those on clinical placements—should contact their co-op coordinators.
We understand that this is a stressful and uncertain time for everyone—here at Northeastern and around the world. Our decision-making has been—and continues to be—driven by the need to keep our community healthy and safe. By working together—and supporting one another—we can remain resilient during this unprecedented and challenging time.
We encourage you to continue to check the university’s COVID-19 website for the latest updates and changes.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Henderson
Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning
Michael Armini
Senior Vice President for External Affairs