January 13, 2021

Dear members of the campus community,

A few minutes ago, I shared the message below with undergraduates, focusing in particular on campus operations and campus conditions as some undergraduates return to Hanover this weekend. This communication is important for you to see as well, as it outlines our current thinking on changes to Dartmouth operations that may need to be made during winter term if more restrictive operating conditions become necessary.

As always, we appreciate your flexibility and adaptability as we move forward.

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Dear undergraduates,

As we await those of you who will be moving to campus this weekend, we are continuing to closely monitor the increasing rate of COVID-19 nationally as well as in our local area. While our current winter term plan has not changed, I write to tell you that the plans for winter term operations may soon require the implementation of more restrictive conditions than we had originally anticipated, in order for Dartmouth to support the well-being of our community.

In recent days, the number of local student and employee cases in our campus community has been increasing, and national trends suggest the increase may continue. The percentage of positive cases in pre-arrival testing has reached 1% of local students. This level, along with other variables including the number of positive tests in our community and the positive cases in Grafton County--a local per capita level that is now 10 times higher than it was in October--is where we find ourselves this week.

Our consistent and primary goals during the pandemic have been to continue to teach, conduct research, and advance our educational mission, and to do all that we can to promote the health and safety of the campus and the greater community. We will continue to pursue that mission through the weeks and months ahead.

We have been telling you about our plans--using your creative suggestions--for increased opportunities for social engagement and outdoor recreation during winter term. We continue work to implement these plans. However, we may have to scale back on some or all of these activities, as well as make other changes that will limit how you can enjoy your time on campus.

I know that these potential restrictions were not considerations when you made your decision to be on campus this term, and I want to explain these possible changes and offer you the opportunity to change your status to remote learning for winter term if that is your preference. If you decide this week to shift to remote enrollment, your room and board contract will be canceled, and you will be refunded. Your approval for winter as an on-campus enrollment term will be removed and will have no impact on your eligibility for on-campus enrollment for future terms.

I realize that this will present many of you with a difficult decision to make in the next several days. We are truly sorry that you are facing this predicament. As you know, it is essential for us to continue to do all that we can to support your health, and the health of our entire community.

We understand, too, that circumstances--regarding spread of the virus and also the possibility of continued unrest in our country--have changed since this past fall, when you made your decision to come to campus, or to learn remotely. We understand and have deep compassion for those of you who may be feeling uneasiness about traveling at this time. We recognize that the decision on whether to come to campus is an individual one, depending on your priorities and circumstances. Some of you who are approved for on-campus enrollment may choose to be on campus, others may prefer remaining at home or in their current location. The decision is yours to make.

As those of you approved to be on campus make your decision about whether to come to Hanover, here are the types of restrictions that we may need to impose if the rate of local positive cases continues to increase, or if we see marked increases in our campus community:

* A required quarantine in your residence hall room that may last longer than the anticipated eight days required upon arrival, or that may be imposed later for some or all of the remaining term. You will be required to quarantine or isolate if you test positive or are identified through contact tracing as a close contact of a positive individual.

* Food service may continue to be provided on a to-go basis only, with meals to be picked up and consumed alone in your room.

* Those classes with an on-campus component may shift to fully remote learning.

* Access to the library and other facilities, such as labs, the gym, classroom spaces, and the Top of the Hop, may be greatly restricted or closed.

* Some of the on-campus outdoor activities that had been planned, including skating, firepits, and buses to the Dartmouth Skiway, may be closed temporarily or for the entire term.

* As conditions evolve, and as some students chose in the fall, you will continue to have the option of leaving campus to continue your education remotely, after completing required quarantine or isolation and provided you are medically cleared to travel. However, it is possible that travel restrictions at the state or national level may not allow for a return home and you will be required to remain on campus, perhaps restricted to your room.

We realize that these are difficult possibilities to consider, and the decision for each of you will be different. As I have said many times, this certainly isn't the year we expected, but it is where we find ourselves in the midst of this prolonged pandemic. We know that some of you will be wondering whether you can delay your return to Hanover, but unfortunately, because of the need for quarantine following travel and because students utilize shared facilities, we need all students who are coming to Hanover to arrive on their scheduled arrival dates.

If you have an on-campus room assignment and decide to shift to remote enrollment, please send a message to Dean.of.the.College@dartmouth.edu to let us know that you will not be arriving this weekend as assigned. We will cancel your room and board fees, and you will receive a 100% refund under Dartmouth's refund policy.

Thank you for your understanding during this rapidly-evolving situation. We are a strong, supportive community and I know that--as difficult as it has been and will continue to be--we will get through this term and this year. We will continue to be resilient in the face of this pandemic and we will adapt to these challenging circumstances.

Sincerely,

Joseph Helble, Provost