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Coronavirus Information

Urgent COVID-19 resident student update

March 13

Dear Hopkins Residential Students,

We are writing to provide an important update about our handling of the COVID19 situation at JHU. This unprecedented and evolving public health crisis calls us to make tough decisions on a daily basis with student health and well-being at the center of every decision. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to refine our response as more information becomes available.

We have communicated our strong desire for residential students to leave campus and not return at the end of Spring Break. All residential students are now required to leave campus as soon as possible or by 5pm on March 15, 2020 and remain home until April 12 or until further direction is received.  We will be making limited exceptions to required student departures for those who cannot return home due to international travel restrictions, financial hardship, or other extraordinary circumstances.

If you have already confirmed your intent to depart via the prior form, no further action is needed. If you have not yet indicated your intentions, or if you previously told us you intended to stay on campus, you must complete this updated form.

Students receiving financial aid and for whom leaving campus presents financial challenges should call or email Student Financial Services or request a virtual appointment with your financial aid adviser at https://finaid.jhu.edu/contact/ between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. This Saturday and Sunday, financial aid staff will also be available adjacent to the Student Outreach and Support suite in Charles Commons from 10 am to 4 pm.

If you have other concerns or potential barriers to your safe departure, please let Student Outreach and Support know by calling 410-516-7857 or visiting the office. The office, located in Charles Commons, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30-5pm. This Saturday and Sunday, staff will be available from 10 am to 4 pm.

Please note:

  • Dining and housing will be credited on a pro-rated basis for the period of time students are not on-campus. We will send more information as soon as possible about the process through which credit will be handled and any potential impact to financial aid awards. For any specific dining questions, please email dining@jhu.edu. For housing specific questions, please email housing@jhu.edu.
  • If you have a student job at JHU, you will be paid from March 23 through April 12 even if not working.
  • Student Disability Services (SDS) will communicate with registered students about accommodations that may be needed for the online format of course instruction.

Should you be given an exception to remain on campus, please be aware that you:

  • May be subject to health screening.
  • Will not be permitted to host visitors in university housing; only current residential students who are approved to remain on campus will be allowed to access the residence halls.
  • May be relocated in the event that your room needs to be utilized by the university to manage our response to the COVID19 situation.

The requirement to leave campus also applies to students who are in self-quarantine or are having cold or flu-like symptoms. Please make every effort to be picked up by a family member or local contact. In extraordinary circumstances and after family and other options have been exhausted, the University will work with you and your family to arrange an isolated location on campus or in the local area.

Please know that we are taking these steps after consulting with experts in public health and infectious disease who advised us to significantly reduce the number of students residing on campus in highly concentrated living, dining and studying quarters.

Through April 12, if you have left important items in your residence hall rooms, you may contact Housing Operations at housing@jhu.edu or 410-516-7960 to request access to retrieve them. You will need to coordinate a time to return to get them.

Thank you for your patience and understanding and for your care for the Johns Hopkins community. Please continue to monitor JHU’s COVID19 website  for updates.

Sincerely,

Alanna W. Shanahan
Vice Provost for Student Affairs