This message was sent on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
Dear Members of the Bryn Mawr Community,
We hope this letter finds you well as we continue to adjust to the challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19. We are writing to support your summer planning by providing information about Summer 2020 programs.
Given our primary concern about the safety of our community and our desire to continue to support the public health effort to flatten the epidemic curve, we are moving summer activities online wherever possible, including fellowships and summer research. If governmental and public health guidelines permit, the College may offer a small number of on-campus opportunities after July 6.
Off-campus programs that can be offered remotely, will be; those that cannot be offered remotely will be canceled. There will be no College-sponsored travel for undergraduates. Faculty and graduate student travel for research is not advised.
We have reached these decisions based on current information about the spread of the virus and its unpredictable timeline. These decisions were made in consultation with program and center directors, members of the faculty and key staff, and counterparts at Haverford College. This letter provides general principles, and we strongly encourage you to review information about specific programs and activities on our website.
On-Campus Programs and Opportunities:
On-campus summer programs will be offered remotely wherever possible; those that cannot be held remotely will be canceled. We hope to offer a small number of on-campus opportunities starting July 6, if governmental and public health guidelines permit.
Community members involved with on-campus summer opportunities set to begin in July should note that these activities may be canceled based on governmental or public health guidelines. Students and faculty can opt out now if their plans do not support this level of uncertainty. We will confirm a final determination for these on-campus opportunities no later than May 15th.
When stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, the campus will re-open as it is advisable to do so. As this happens, faculty and graduate students will be permitted to return to the lab, and faculty and graduate students will be able to use archives and libraries in accordance with guidelines then in effect.
We hope to offer a small number of on-campus, undergraduate research or internship opportunities – those that simply cannot be conducted online – beginning on July 6th and running for six weeks. Student stipends for these opportunities will be pro-rated to reflect the shorter duration of the programs.
Off-Campus Programs and Opportunities:
Bryn Mawr will not host any international programs in their international locations. Those international programs that can be offered online, will be.
There will be no College-sponsored travel related to undergraduate fellowships, research, or internships for the summer. Wherever possible, we will support online internships and research, or those that do not require travel by a student to a new location.
Under the current circumstances, any College-sponsored travel for faculty or graduate students is not advised. Any faculty or graduate students who are considering or planning to engage in any travel for research are strongly urged to consult with the US State Department Advisory as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Graduate students who plan to travel for research must submit their proposal to the GSAS Travel Committee and receive approval.
Thank you very much for your patience and understanding in these matters. We, of course, recognize the educational importance and impact of summer experiences and summer scholarship. We are deeply disappointed that the summer cannot proceed as planned, and we are making every effort to support alternative opportunities where possible.
With our best wishes,
Mary Osirim, Provost
Sharon Burgmayer, Dean of Graduate Studies
Jennifer Walters, Dean of the Undergraduate College