** NOTE: This content was developed as a part of Northeastern’s COVID-19 response. Please visit news-northeastern-edu.go-vip.net/coronavirus for up-to-date information. **
Here is how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting our faculty, staff, and students on our campuses and abroad.
Students can find updated information about accessing medical and mental health services on the UHCS COVID-19 Resources pages:
Students are asked to move out of Northeastern residence halls in Boston by Tuesday, March 17 at 5:00 pm.
Campus housing will remain closed through the end of Summer I—except for those with special circumstances, who may remain until the end of the Spring semester.
Special circumstances: Any student who is concerned about their ability to move out—or has other concerns— should email wecare@northeastern.edu. They can also call the university’s call center at 617-373-2000. Please note that we are adding additional WeCare staff to assist the large number of student and parent requests.
International students: We are fully aware that international students will have particular challenges based on the circumstances in their home countries and new travel restrictions. Like all students with specific hardships, international students can petition the university to remain in residence halls; each case will receive individual attention.
Housing costs: Room and board costs will be pro-rated for the remainder of the semester for all students leaving campus. Additional information on processing refunds will be forthcoming. For students who have already left Boston, Res Life and Housing will make arrangements to store students’ belongings. Please contact Housing at housing@northeastern.edu to make arrangements. Storage and shipping resources and moving support are available through Tuesday.
Co-op: Students currently on co-op are included in the request to move out of residence halls. The rationale for this request is based on strong public health guidance, irrespective of current semester status. Students in residence halls should speak to their co-op employers about remote work if they haven’t already. Any student who has to conclude a co-op experience early because their employer will not allow remote work can be assured that they will receive the appropriate credit. Students with specific questions on implications for their co-ops—such as those on clinical placements—should contact their co-op coordinators.
According to the latest guidance, if already in the U.S., new students (including transfer students) holding active F-1 status can begin their studies at Northeastern with online classes for upcoming academic terms due to the current COVID-19 F-1 accommodations. More information about the updated guidance for F-1 and J-1 international students can be found here: https://international.northeastern.edu/ogs/. International students can also contact their OGS advisor at OGS@northeastern.edu or email OGS at OGSCoronavirusResponse@northeastern.edu for any specific COVID-19 requests or questions.
Following Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun’s letter to the Department of Homeland Security requesting immediate relief to students holding F-1 visa status who need to access courses online to minimize disease transmission and safeguard public health, the agency issued guidance to universities granting current F-1 international students flexibility to access online learning and maintain employment without risk of penalty during the current COVID-19 emergency. It is important to underscore that the offering of online or remote teaching to students at Northeastern’s Boston, Burlington, Nahant, Seattle, San Francisco, Charlotte, London, and Silicon Valley campuses is a temporary accommodation and can reverse or change anytime based on further guidance from public health officials. F-1 students will receive comprehensive advice and support for the duration of this temporary accommodation.
If you are planning to travel outside of the United States, please review important travel advisory information at https://news.northeastern.edu/coronavirus/travel-and-return/ and https://international.northeastern.edu/ogs/maintaining-status/international-travel/. For any further questions, and in the event that you decide to travel outside of the United States, please contact your OGS advisor at OGS@northeastern.edu so that the university is able to comprehensively advise and support you with your travel plans.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call the NUPD non-emergency dispatch number at 617-373-2121. The NUPD 24/7 operator will connect you with an international support team member.
Under the CARES Act, Northeastern University will receive and distribute $5.8 million to Northeastern students who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. These funds will be distributed to students who have incurred expenses from the disruption of campus operations, including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care.
To expedite the distribution of these emergency funds to our students, the university will begin reviewing emergency grant applications as quickly as possible. The Student Financial Services FAQs answer further questions about student eligibility, eligible expenses, and the application process. If you believe you are eligible for an emergency grant based on Department of Education guidelines, please complete a brief online application to request emergency financial assistance.
As of March 14, all students abroad in Northeastern programs are asked to return to their home of record/primary residence. The Global Experience Office (GEO) is working closely with affected students and their academic advisors.
If you are planning to travel outside of the United States, please review important travel advisory information from the Travel and Return webpage and from the Office of Global Services.
For any further questions, and in the event that you decide to travel outside of the United States, please contact your OGS advisor at OGS@northeastern.edu so that the university is able to comprehensively advise and support you with your travel plans.
Should you wish to discuss your options, or if need advice specific to your situation, please also contact your OGS advisor. OGS advisors are ready and available to support you.
Qifei (Rose) Lu, who graduated from Northeastern-Seattle, works at the Facebook offices in Seattle, Washington on November 28, 2018. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University
Beginning March 12, the university is encouraging managers to work with employees (irrespective of risk groups) to enable remote work wherever possible, while ensuring business continuity. This policy applies to Northeastern’s campuses in Massachusetts (Boston, Burlington, Nahant), Seattle, Charlotte, London, and Vancouver.
In accordance with a shelter-in-place order from six Bay Area counties, Northeastern campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area are closed effective March 17, 2020. Based on guidance from the governor of Massachusetts and health officials, staff at Northeastern’s Massachusetts campuses will be restricted to “on-site essential” employees only. Effective March 26, the Charlotte campus is closed in accordance with a stay-at-home order for the county. Staff at these campuses will work remotely and only essential university personnel will be permitted access to these facilities, if and when deemed necessary. Online course instruction will continue as planned.
Employees designated on-site essential by their managers—in consultation with NUPD—have received an email from the Office of Emergency Management with the subject line “Northeastern University Travel Authorization Letter.” The letter ensures that the on-site essential employee is able to travel and gain access to campus facilities. Employees with questions about their on-site essential status should speak with their managers.
Most of the university’s research enterprise—particularly research related to COVID-19—will maintain continuity. Employees or doctoral students engaged in research can continue to work on site to maintain continuity of experiments and support critical research infrastructure. Staff or students with questions about their role in maintaining critical research should speak to their faculty supervisor.
Anyone with questions about their ability to work remotely should contact the Senior HR business partner assigned to their college or department. The university will continuously evaluate this policy change and make adjustments as needed.
The university is urging anyone who has traveled abroad to self-monitor their health and, if they are returning from a CDC Level 3 country or region, to self-quarantine for 14 days. The voluntary cooperation of all members of our community is critical to prevent disease transmission and to protect the health and safety of the university community.
Consistent with public health guidance, large gatherings on Northeastern campuses will be limited to essential events only. All non-essential events will move to virtual format, unless impractical, in which case they will be canceled. Large events deemed essential must be approved by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and will be limited to 50 percent of available seating capacity to comply with social distancing requirements.