March 20, 2020

Dear Alumni,

Thank you to the many alumni who have voiced their support for the on-campus community as we navigate the evolving situation with regard to COVID-19. We want to take this opportunity to provide some updates.

Postponing events and campaign

We have been carefully considering the many events that would bring Reedies together and have decided to take the following steps:

• All Reed on the Road events have been postponed.
• All regional alumni chapter events have been postponed through the end of April. We’re working on ways to hold some of these events virtually!
• Updates on Reunions can be found here.
• As of March 16, Reed has suspended its March giving campaign. A hearty thank you to those who have given so far. Your "in honor of" reasons were moving, funny, inspirational, mysterious, and a testament to the Reed we all know and love.

More information about what’s happening on campus can be found on Reed’s Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention & Response website.

Continuing to Connect

• You can access the Alumni Directory 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. Check in on your dorm mom or your first-year roommate or reach out to someone who had the same major as you but graduated 10 years before or after you. While you’re there, take a moment to update your profile.
• You can access the library’s online resources and JSTOR as a member of the Reed alumni community using your IRIS account. If you don't have an IRIS account, you can set one up.
• Peruse the articles in Reed Magazine, including this recent story about eight Reedies who are helping us all get through the coronavirus pandemic.
• Check out Reed’s digital archives or the digital thesis tower.

Supporting Students

We have received many questions about how to help current students as they navigate changes on campus.

You may choose to post an “offer” or answer an “ask” on Switchboard. Many current students have been posting to Switchboard with requests for specific types of help (housing, storage, a ride to the airport), and Portland-area alumni may be in a unique position to help students who need to leave campus by March 27.

Additionally, if you’re searching for ways to help Reedies financially, please consider a gift of any size to the Student Emergency Fund.

The Student Emergency Fund supports students experiencing a wide range of unanticipated needs, including medical expenses, food and supplies, emergency travel, housing security, and more. Gifts to the Emergency Fund are a meaningful way to care for students who are experiencing the effects of this pandemic. Read more about the Student Emergency Fund here.

Despite these challenges, Alumni Programs is here for you! During COVID-19, we are operating remotely to support alumni across the world. Have ideas on how our alumni can stay connected, make a difference, or help each other out during this time? We’re already thinking through online book clubs, virtual craft nights, and other ways to get Reedies together safely. Email us at alumni@reed.edu to share your thoughts. We would love to set up a time to talk with you.

We are fortunate to have a resilient and supportive alumni community and we are grateful for your dedication to the college, current students, and each other. I know that in the coming months Reedie innovation and collaboration will shine. Please take care of yourself, physically and mentally—you are a vital part of the Reed community.

Warm regards,

Mary M. Askelson
Executive Director, Alumni Programs and Annual Fund