Information and instructions for students and families

March 19, 2020

Dear JHU Undergraduate Student,

Thank you for your continued understanding as we navigate the rapidly evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you have seen from yesterday’s universitywide announcement, Johns Hopkins will continue with remote instruction for the remainder of the semester.  Along with the disappointment we all feel about not being able to reconvene as a community, this change poses new challenges for all of us. We are working diligently in many areas to ensure that you are well supported to continue your education for the rest of the spring 2020 semester even as we take unprecedented steps to protect your safety and that of our home community. In this communication we will cover: remote instruction, student services, departing campus/recommended action for off-campus students, packing the contents of campus residences and move out.

Remote Instruction
The conversion of all in-person courses to remote instruction presents a new environment for instructors and students alike. We ask for your patience as details are worked out.  Successfully learning in such an environment requires new skills and a willingness to engage with instructors and other students in new ways.  We encourage you to take a look at the Center for Educational Resources website that we have prepared and will continue to expand with resources to help you in your remote learning.

Student Services
We are also working to transition student services online to serve your needs.  We have created a new website to consolidate information about university services and how to best access them remotely. We will update this site as new information becomes available, so I encourage you to check back frequently.  Beyond the information especially geared to undergraduate students that you will find on this new page, we also remind you to visit the Hub’s dedicated COVID-19 page for more up-to-the-minute announcements specific to the Johns Hopkins community. We also recommend the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center for a look at how Johns Hopkins is contributing to the global response to COVID-19 through expertise in public health, emergency management and infectious disease.

Departing Campus
As you know, we have required all undergraduate students living on-campus to depart, save for a small number who applied for and were granted an exception.

Given the limited nature of on-campus support services, we strongly encourage our undergraduate students who reside off-campus to consider, with their families, whether a return to your permanent address is in your best interest.

Unfortunately, we do not have capacity on campus to provide meal services or housing for off-campus students who need to move to self-quarantine or isolation. Students who are in self-quarantine or having cold or flu-like symptoms should make every effort to be picked up by a family member or local contact.

Whether you live on or off campus, if you have financial concerns such as housing or food insecurity, financial insecurity, or inability to access the online learning environment, the Office of Student Financial Services is here to help you navigate these issues. Financial support is available. All requests will be assessed on a case by case basis, and prioritized based on level of financial need. You can call, e-mail, or request a virtual appointment at https://finaid.jhu.edu/contact/ between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday-Friday.

Packing and Move-out
In light of the recent guidance from public health authorities and our own experts about the prolonged and unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, JHU will hire external professionals to begin the process of packing the contents of each campus residence. We will do all we can to insure the security of student personal property during the packing process. Items will be packed and remain in the assigned room until physical distancing regulations are lifted. At that time, we will communicate a move-out process to families. If you have personal belongings that are imperative to retrieve immediately (e.g., medications, passports), please contact the housing office at housing@jhu.edu. If returning to campus to retrieve your personal belongings when we are able to welcome people back in person is a hardship (for example, you are an international student or have a financial hardship) please make contact with the housing office and we will arrange to store your items until the start of the fall semester. Again, we will remain in touch as the situation evolves.

I know that this is a difficult time for you and your families and friends with so many different and new circumstances to navigate.  My team and I are here to continue to support you as we navigate this extraordinary situation together.

Sincerely,

Alanna W. Shanahan
Vice Provost for Student Affairs