Update to undergraduate students [Posted to MIT Covid-19 website]

March 9, 2020
Cynthia Barnhart, Chancellor, 2014–2021 |

Dear Undergraduates,

In light of the Institute-wide response to Covid-19 announced by President Reif on March 5, we are providing ongoing updates to keep you informed of MIT’s rapidly evolving approaches to protecting our community, and how they might impact student life and learning.

Please keep reading for today’s updates, and look for additional updates regularly.

While there is still no specific identified risk to the MIT community, the Institute is closely monitoring the global spread of Covid-19 and is undertaking a community-wide effort from now until May 15 to ensure continuity in the event of disruptions.

Our utmost priority is to do all we can to be there for you and our graduate students, faculty, staff, and post-docs.

Thanks for your patience and cooperation as we work to ensure the health and safety of the MIT community.

Sincerely,
Office of the Chancellor


Coronavirus Update

Up-to-date medical information about Covid-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) is being provided by MIT Medical. Please bookmark this website: medical.mit.edu/Covid-19.

Academic Updates

Classes of 150 or more suspended as of Tuesday, March 10

Motivated by advice from public health experts and out of an abundance of caution to reduce the transmission of disease where there are larger groups, by Tuesday, we will no longer host any lectures in which 150 or more students assemble in a single classroom. Based upon our interactions with the teaching teams, most of the larger classes are already prepared to replace their lectures with videos; they are also all planning and preparing to replace other elements of their classes by remote teaching options if needed.

Midterm examinations

As of now, midterm examinations for classes above 150 will proceed as scheduled, but we will run them in several rooms so the number of students per room goes well below 150. The Registrar’s Office is working on room scheduling strategies to best accommodate that approach.

Preparing for remote and online teaching

A working group led by Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education Ian A. Waitz is aggressively developing plans to enable as much educational continuity as feasible in situations where students, faculty, and staff may not be able to be on campus for a brief or extended period of time.

Expect further updates on these developments later this week.

Events

CPW

As shared in President Reif's letter, our on-campus Campus Preview Weekend (CPW) will not be held this year. In the coming weeks, the Admissions Office will be connecting with admitted students, current students, and campus partners to discuss what to do instead of a conventional CPW. Also of note: Admissions tours and daytime applicant visits have been cancelled. For more, please see the Admissions blog.

Campus events

Sponsored events of more than 150 attendees

Effective immediately, if you or your organization are planning any in-person MIT event with more than 150 attendees on campus or off campus, you must postpone, cancel, or “virtualize” it.

Events affiliated with K-12 populations

All MIT-sponsored / affiliated K-12 activities, whether or not they are related to a specific academic program, either on or off campus, must be canceled, virtualized, or rescheduled.

Approved events under 150 attendees

All events that are still taking place should have ticketing or counting systems to track attendance, inclusive of everyone present at the event. There will be no exceptions for late arrivals or exceeding the 150-attendee maximum. All event organizers should be proactively informed of hygiene best-practices. Food should not be left out for the community afterwards. The MIT Facilities staff has been alerted to these policies.

Ticketing Systems

AdMIT One: A centralized box office service for the MIT community. They work closely with student groups, MIT departments, and external organizations to ensure that each event is as successful as possible. 

EventBrite: A global platform for live experiences that allows anyone to create, share, find, and attend events that fuel their passions and enrich their lives.

Athletic events (from DAPER)

Unless otherwise announced, MIT’s intercollegiate athletics events will continue as scheduled. Visiting teams are asked to bring only student-athletes and essential team personnel to events at MIT. Expect updates later this week.

Spectators may follow events online 

Additionally, we ask that only MIT students, faculty, and staff members attend home athletic events scheduled through May 15. All other spectators, including parents, are asked to watch events using DAPER’s video  streaming service or to follow events using our live stats online.

Travel & Study Abroad

MIT-sponsored domestic travel

  • Students planning MIT-sponsored travel beyond a 100-mile radius from Cambridge must seek review and receive approval from the Institute’s High-Risk Travel Committee and, post-approval, must register their trip in the confidential MIT travel registry.
  • As you plan, we strongly encourage you to err on the side of caution and anticipate and plan for last-minute changes and cancellations. Please also be aware that your destination may become a high-risk area by the time of your return, and there is a chance that you could be asked to self-quarantine upon your return.
  • Individuals wishing to travel should complete the domestic high-risk travel application as soon as possible; the Committee will make every effort to review completed applications in a timely fashion. Questions can be emailed to high-risk-travel-comm@mit.edu.

Personal domestic travel

Students planning personal travel beyond a 100-mile radius from Cambridge are encouraged register their trip in the confidential MIT travel registry. As you plan, we strongly encourage you to err on the side of caution and anticipate last-minute changes and cancellations. Please also be aware that your destination may become a high-risk area by the time of your return, and there is a chance that you could be asked to self-quarantine upon your return.

Travel abroad through MISTI, D-Lab, PKG Center

Students currently abroad

Students who are currently abroad through MISTI (including for academic study abroad) are not required to return at this time. However, students who choose to stay should immediately begin making a plan for rapidly-changing conditions (e.g., possible outbreak and/or closure of host institution). Students may choose to withdraw from the program and return home at any time as the situation evolves. Students choosing this option should inform program staff as soon as possible so that they may assist with issues regarding academic continuity and logistics.

Students planning to travel this summer

The new policies and guidelines concerning international travel are in effect through May 15. Given the fluidity of the situation, MISTI, D-Lab, and the PKG Center have not cancelled summer programs as of today and are continuing to work with students to secure placements beginning after May 15. Students may choose to remain in the program(s), or they may withdraw from the program(s) without penalty at any time.

Programs will continue to monitor developments and any changes to MIT's policies and advise students accordingly. Updates on how Covid-19 might affect these programs can be found here.

Spring Break

In addition to suspending all international travel for faculty, students, staff, and post-docs on MIT business or with MIT programs, the Institute is also offering guidance to students for the upcoming spring break.

Specifically, the Institute is urging students to weigh the risks and potential consequences of their travel plans pertaining to themselves and others. Should a student travel to any nation where the CDC reports “widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission” of Covid-19, they will be required to complete a two-week self-quarantine off campus. Further, as new outbreaks occur and government travel restrictions shift, be aware that, if you choose to travel outside the United States, you may encounter difficulties in returning.

Self-Care

Sleep and eat well

Be sure to get enough sleep and eat a healthy balanced diet (with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables).

Practice good hygiene  

  • Get a flu shot if you haven’t gotten one yet! To make an appointment, call MIT Medical’s Primary Care Service at 617-258-9355 in Cambridge, or 781-981-7080 in Lexington.
  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay in your residence if you are feeling sick.

Helpful Links