March 15, 2020
Dear Reed Community,
I write with an important announcement of new plans to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The rapidly unfolding circumstances have required us to make decisions and then revise them with a great deal of speed.
Though we are not aware of any cases on the Reed campus, we have decided to make significant changes to the plan that we announced just last week. These changes reflect additional information from outside the college, careful attention to input from the Reed community, and consideration of the college’s ability to manage a situation in which a large number of people might become ill or in which our actions could be further restricted by government mandate. First and foremost, we want to do what is in our power to safeguard the health of all individuals in our community.
We have concluded that the best and most responsible path forward is as follows:
- We will move classes online for the duration of the semester after Spring Break.
- Students should leave campus for the remainder of the term as soon as possible after classes end this Wednesday, March 18, but students must leave by Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m.
- We are implementing a housing petition process for students with special circumstances that prevent them from leaving campus by March 27.
During this unprecedented time, we remain committed to maintaining our academic program. Classes will continue to the fullest extent possible, albeit online, so that students can continue their coursework and make progress toward fulfilling graduation requirements.
As you know, we have worked hard to avoid these major disruptions; however, it is clear that this pandemic requires extraordinary steps. We are keenly aware of how disappointing this news will be to many of you. I particularly regret that our seniors will miss out on their final months together; that they will miss the unique experience of their last semester on this campus brings me deep sadness.
For all students, I regret how these developments disrupt your friendships, your work, and your community. I urge you to stay in touch with one another, to check in on one another, and to continue to support one another, bridging the distance in every way you can. I also regret that this will be hard on families, who will share their students’ disappointment.
For faculty, I am enormously grateful for your efforts to teach your classes and hold meetings with students online. That you have all worked together so well and so quickly is a tribute to your dedication to the college.
For staff, I am deeply impressed by the excellent work that you have done in responding to multiple challenges presented by this virus, from supporting online instruction, to providing health services to students, to adjusting practically every process on campus so that we can maintain operations.
For all of us, this has been and will remain a time of great uncertainty. Your care for each other, your resilience, and your expertise give me confidence that we can sustain our educational mission and our close community as we respond to the challenges posed by this new virus.
With hope and with best wishes for your health,
Audrey
—
Audrey Bilger
President
Reed College
Below you will find important updates to Reed's COVID-19 Prevention & Response Plan.
Academic schedule and classes
As previously announced, Spring Break will begin early, with classes cancelled on March 19 & 20. Classes will be held online beginning March 30 and continuing through the end of the semester. Classes will be taught remotely using tools like Moodle, Zoom, Meet, Google Apps for Education, etc. We have updated the FAQs to address other common questions.
Student housing
Students should leave campus for the remainder of the term as soon as possible after classes end this Wednesday, March 18, but students must leave by Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m. We understand that some students will be unable to leave campus due to financial or family hardship, or international travel limitations. With that in mind, we have implemented a petition process for students with special circumstances who wish to remain on campus beyond March 27.
- Learn more about what students need to do if they plan to leave campus by March 27.
- Learn more about what students need to do if they want to petition to live on campus beyond March 27.
Room and board refunds
The college will make pro-rata refunds of room and board base charges for the remainder of the semester for students who leave campus. Any unused board points will be refunded in full. Financial aid recipients will have their aid adjusted accordingly. More information on refunds of room and board charges will be provided in the coming week.
Financial issues for students
The college is committed to supporting students who are experiencing financial difficulty or incurring additional expenses as a result of COVID-19. Learn more about how the college can help and guidance related to financial aid during this time.
Travel
The college has implemented restrictions on travel. Study abroad programs are also impacted, and Reed has been working with students whose programs have been canceled on a case-by-case basis in an effort to mitigate the impacts on students’ academic progress.
International students
We will be especially attentive to the needs of our international students. If you are studying at Reed on a visa, we have compiled useful information for you. For personal assistance, please contact Reed’s International Student Services office (ISS) as soon as possible.
Medical services
There is a great deal of information on COVID-19 and what Reed is doing to prevent the spread. Reed’s Health and Counseling Center will continue to be available to service students.
Student work
For more information about the potential impact on students who work on campus, see the student work FAQs.
Food services
Food service at Reed will continue to be available. Reed has been working closely with Bon Appétit, the college's food service provider, on implementing changes to food handling. More information regarding changes to food service hours of operation will be available in the coming days.
Social distancing
The college is practicing social distancing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority. Meetings will be held online or in spaces that allow at least three feet between meeting participants. Seating in Commons has been reduced to allow distance between diners. Questions about resources to bring meetings online should be addressed to department managers or to coronavirusquestions@reed.edu.
Events
Because the college is moving classes online for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester, the majority of on-campus events through mid-May have been cancelled or postponed. Reed is evaluating the status of large college events scheduled for summer 2020, including Commencement, Reunions, and summer conferences. More information on the status of these events will be forthcoming. The Reed Admission Office has also made changes to on- and off-campus admission programming.
Staff and faculty
Reed’s human resources office sent a communication to staff on Saturday, March 14, communicating important guidance for Reed staff. Additionally, there is a section in the FAQs answering important questions asked by faculty and staff related to working from home, social distancing, and managing if you or a family member becomes ill.
Reed library
All Reed community members are welcome to take advantage of the library’s remote services. Find out more on the library’s website.