Dear Students and Families:
My sincere thanks to the many of you who were able to join us last week for the University of Chicago’s Planning for Autumn 2020 in the College town hall. I write to reiterate our commitment to the quarter ahead for students in the College and to provide, as promised, more of the information that you expressed to be of interest.
As stated during the town hall, we know that the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus cause concern among students and families and in some cases strain decision-making. Yet it is also known that this is a moment in time. UChicago students who continue their education now – whether from campus or through remote learning – stand to benefit greatly from the uninterrupted cultivation of intellect, the pursuit of career paths, and applying their educational experience to make a meaningful impact in the world. We encourage you to remain committed to these goals in the Autumn Quarter.
We understand some students may decide to remain in their home communities for Autumn Quarter, and travel restrictions may limit some students’ ability to join us in Chicago. The College’s goal is to support all students as comprehensively as possible. Most College courses will have remote capabilities to ensure that students can enjoy a rich and stimulating academic experience in that mode. Similarly, while learning in Hyde Park will require health and safety practices, we remain of the belief that returning to campus offers a magnificent educational experience. As former UChicago president Robert Maynard Hutchins once put it, the “air is electric,” introducing students in powerful ways to the challenges of intellectual partnerships and giving them a common vocabulary of ideas and ideals.
For information on these plans and more, we offer the following information and resources.
- A recording of the town hall is available now through July. The intent of this information session was to expand upon the College’s Autumn planning announcement in June, providing details about Autumn Quarter plans for undergraduates in relation to housing and dining, academic instruction, and health and safety.
- Leading up to and following the town hall, the College received numerous questions from students and parents. Recognizing the importance of the guidance requested, a dedicated source of answers to frequently asked questions is now available on the College website. While it does not yet answer every question asked, the aim is to provide information that is currently available, with a steadfast commitment to frequently update and add to this resource.
- For a detailed resource of all available information on Autumn 2020 in the College, a dedicated webpage is available on the College’s website. The College’s @UChicagoCollege pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as the University’s UChicago Forward website, also offer helpful ways to stay current on news and updates from the College.
Over the next weeks, the College will continue to communicate to advance our collective readiness for the Autumn Quarter. In the meantime, I offer my best wishes for your good health and enjoyment of the summer season.
Sincerely,
John W. Boyer
Dean of the College
The University of Chicago