*Published on March 17, 2020*
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:
In an effort to keep the Northeastern community continuously informed, we write to provide you with the latest real-time updates about the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bay Area Campuses Closed; Essential Personnel Only
In accordance with a shelter-in-place order from six Bay Area counties, Northeastern campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area are closed effective March 17, 2020. Staff will work remotely and only essential university personnel will be permitted access to these facilities, if and when deemed necessary. Online course instruction will continue as planned.
Vancouver and Charlotte Campuses Move Online
Also in keeping with the guidance of local public health authorities, in-person courses on the Northeastern Vancouver and Northeastern Charlotte campuses have moved online.
Summer I and CPS Spring and Summer Quarters Will Be Online
Pursuant to the CDC’s interim guidance that in-person events and gatherings be restricted to less than 50 people for the next 8 weeks, all in-person courses for Summer I and College of Profession Studies Spring and Summer Quarters will move to online and remote delivery at Northeastern’s Boston, Charlotte, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, and Vancouver campuses. A determination about Summer II course delivery will be made later this Spring.
Move-Out Progressing; Boston Campus Housing Closed Through Summer I
Housing and Residential Life are working continuously to facilitate move-out ahead of today’s 5:00 p.m. deadline. Campus housing will remain closed through the end of Summer I—except for those with special circumstances, who may remain until the end of the Spring semester. A decision about Summer II campus housing availability will be communicated later this Spring.
Students in Off-Campus Housing Also Encouraged to Return Home
Based upon guidance from the CDC—as well as local restrictions on commerce and possibly travel in the days to come—we are also strongly encouraging students who live in off-campus housing in neighborhoods surrounding the Boston campus to return home.
Campus Dining Operations Moving to Take-Out Only
Consistent with the Massachusetts Governor’s proclamation to restrict in-person dining, beginning today all campus dining operations in Boston will move to take-out only. There will be no seating in residential dining halls. Residential dining halls—with the exception of International Village—will close beginning Wednesday, March 18th. Retail Dining service in Curry will remain operational. Rebecca’s Café will suspend service this Wednesday and Catering will suspend service this Friday, March 20th
All Co-op Employers Have Been Contacted by Northeastern; Credit Given for Employer Cancellations
A communication has been sent by Northeastern to all employers regarding co-op students who may not be able to maintain their co-op placements as a result of moving out of campus housing. Affected students should speak to their co-op employers about the possibility of 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 will receive appropriate credit. Students with questions should contact their co-op coordinators.
Research Enterprise Ongoing; PhD Students Engaged in Research Remain
The university’s research enterprise remains open and operational for the time being. PhD students who are engaged in research may remain in labs and are reminded to adhere to transmission risk mitigation and density recommendations. Contingency planning is ongoing to ensure labs and experiments are not compromised should there be any disruption in campus operations.
Mail Forwarding Available through Residential Mail
Student mail and packages that are received at ResMail can be forwarded. Please contact ResMail at ResidentialMail@northeastern.edu to make such arrangements, if necessary.
Additional information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to check the university’s COVID-19 website for the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Henderson, Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning and Co-Chair of the University COVID-19 Task Force
Michael Armini, Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Co-Chair of the University COVID-19 Task Force