Travel, Donations & Residential Policy Updates

Dear students,

I so deeply admire your commitment to our community, and to one another. Thank you for your patience and grace in this very unique situation. I hope that your plans are starting to come together and that you are getting your immediate questions answered. Please continue to let us know what you need so that we can be as supportive as possible. 

We have begun approving housing petitions for extenuating circumstances as well as emergency fund requests and we will continue to do so on a rolling basis. There will be more information in regards to important questions about student employment and lost wages coming soon. Please keep checking the FAQs. There is updated information on the FAQs right now about airport shuttles and other important resources (and lots of important moving updates below). 

For information about COVID-19 I encourage you to make use of resources such as the Centers for Disease Control.

Policy Update

I have below additional important information about:

• New guidelines for our in residential student community, in effect Saturday, March 14 at 11:59 pm
• Moving out of your residence hall, including shipping needs, donating items, and notification of leaving your residence.
• Any previous Spring break travel registration or permission to stay are VOID effective immediately. Students do not need to register to be on campus between now and March 20. Anything beyond that needs formal approval; and there are new guidelines below for community living.

For the health and safety of our community I am writing to share that we have developed the following guidelines to protect all members of our community. Effective Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 11:59 pm all Mount Holyoke students currently living in residence at the College will be required to follow these terms to remain in housing until final check out on or before March 20, 2020.

• You agree not to travel more than a 10 mile radius from campus.
• You understand that you are not permitted to return to live on campus if you travel outside of the 10 mile radius including any pre-registered Spring Break Plans which are now VOID. You will be permitted back to campus to pack up your belongings if you travel outside of the radius. Permission and appointments for check out will be made through the Office of Residential Life via the checking out of your residence hall form.
• You cannot have any non-MHC guests in your residence halls.
• The exception is a one-time guest pass(es) to assist you with moving out of your residence hall, guests are allowed to do so with permission from Residential Life staff and should be actively engaged in the packing up and moving out process. They should not be in the residence hall for more than one 4 hour time period.
• You understand that Dining will be open but will have limited hours as will campus offices.
• You understand that no guests will be allowed to dine with you on campus including family members or those helping you to pack to move.
• You understand that all College policies, including those stated in the Student Handbook and the Honor Code, will apply and you will be held accountable to them.

Note, by staying on campus in residence through March 20, 2020 you are agreeing to abide by these guidelines.

Due to the health and safety of our residential community members if a student is found in violation of any of these terms, they will be held accountable and the College may revoke their ability to stay in residence.

• If at any point you think you violate these guidelines, or think that  you may have done so, we ask that you disclose this information so that appropriate next steps can be taken to keep the campus community safe. Please contact the Professional Staff on Call who can be accessed through Campus Police at (413) 538-2304.
• If at any point you feel sick while on campus in residence please contact Campus Police at (413) 538-2304. You are encouraged not to go directly to any health care provider, including Health Services, without a phone call prior.

Important Information as You Prepare to Move

A reminder that all residents, who are not approved to stay, should be moved out of their residence halls by Friday, March 20, 2020. 

• To help us with the process let us know you are leaving campus - checking out of your residence hall.
• There are rain ponchos available in the Student Life suite, Blanchard 205, to help you stay dry (no cost).
• For shipping needs:
• The UPS store is on campus through March 20 to assist with shipping items.  Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday noon - 5:00 pm.  
• Auxiliary Services will also be open for mail/package pick up  Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday noon - 5:00 pm. 

• Student Life Safety Net (Emergency Fund)
• If you are a student, and need financial assistance from the Emergency Student Relief (COVID19) fund, please fill out the form. All submitted funding requests will be reviewed and processed immediately. Expect to be notified within 48 hours of the request. This fund and process will be available to you until March 31, 2020 and be used for multiple expenses. For more information about this process please contact Latrina L Denson, Associate Dean of Students, Community and Inclusion.
• Donating Non-perishables and Other Items:
• We have put donation boxes for non-perishable food and other supplies in all Res Halls. In addition there are boxes in Blanchard outside the DSL Suite(Room 205), the Great Room and the Dining Commons. A special thanks to the members of Circle K who helped get these out on campus!
• Once these items are collected they will be available to students in the Unity Space. Check the @mhcstudentlife Instagram for more information. 

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Division of Student Life at dean-students@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-2550.

Warmly,