University Messages

As we move toward reopening our campuses in fall 2020, we write to share additional updates on how the university is preparing its classes, buildings, and residence halls for a return to campus in the fall term.   

*Published June 30, 2020* Dear Faculty and Staff, As we have discussed in recent weeks, the university is actively planning for a fall reopening with students returning to our campuses. As part of the planning, academic and administrative departments across the university are expected to be ready to enter Stage V and reopen by August 17 with staffing plans that enable senior managers to fully meet their respective business goals and objectives. Each senior vice president has designated a point of contact who will work with managers to develop a staffing plan, taking into consideration both onsite and remote staffing in an effort…

Starting the week of July 6th, students returning to the Boston campus for Summer II and to begin their co-op positions with Boston-area employers, will be required to undergo COVID-19 viral testing. Tests are free and results will be provided within 36 hours.

As Northeastern plans for the reopening of its campuses across our global network, we continue to be guided by the central priority of the health and wellbeing of our community. We are committed to delivering the highest-quality Northeastern experience for each one of our students, in a way that gives each student flexible options that serve their educational goals. As we move toward reopening the university this fall, the information below provides a summary of the planning, decisions, and actions to date.

On March 12, we announced the suspension of all non-essential university travel, both domestic and international. Today, we write to announce that this suspension has been lifted and to outline the procedures for engaging in university travel. Please understand that much of the world remains under travel restrictions and the resumption of travel will be slow and uneven across the country and the globe.

Today, we are announcing Hybrid NUflex, an exciting hybrid-flexible learning experience available for Northeastern classes this fall.  Hybrid NUflex will provide a learning experience that is personalized for each student’s needs, whether they are on campus or joining the class from a remote location.

In the coming days, we will begin the phased return of a small number of faculty, staff, and students working in critical research labs, and administrative staff working in critical functions that are difficult to perform effectively from off campus.

Two months have now passed since the COVID-19 pandemic upended our daily routines and way of life. Through it all, the Northeastern community has shown tremendous dexterity and resilience. Under the most challenging of conditions, we continue to educate our students and advance the frontiers of knowledge through our research.

As the university closes the spring term while planning for the months ahead, we write to share several important updates for our learning community.

As Northeastern approaches the end of an unexpectedly challenging semester, we write with an update on the university’s critical priorities—continuing to serve your students’ educational needs and those of our global community.

In this time of worldwide hardship, we know that many of you are wondering how Northeastern will continue to move forward. Our answer is, just as we always have: by doubling down on our mission of learning and discovery. It is our steadfast belief that the solution to the planet’s greatest challenges—including this one—is the light of new knowledge.

As the spring semester draws to a close, we continue to evaluate and refine our pass/fail grading policy. As each of you know, these are extraordinary times that require additional flexibility on the part of the university. Some students and families are enduring remarkable hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these issues, we will allow undergraduate students to take some or all courses pass/fail this semester.

Previously, the university announced that all in-person courses for Summer I and CPS Spring and Summer Quarters would move to an online format. Based on continued guidance from public health officials, the determination has been made to move Summer II course delivery online.

Many of you have expressed questions and concerns about positive diagnoses of COVID-19 within the Northeastern community. Namely, people learn about someone being diagnosed and are wondering, understandably, what it means for them or their colleagues, particularly if they think they may have been in contact with a person who has tested positive.

These are unprecedented times with unprecedented demands that span our professional and personal lives. While the circumstances that factor into managing work, life, learning—and the blurring lines in between—may be unique to each individual, we want to assure everyone in the Northeastern family that there is a support system with resources available to students, faculty, and staff, including the relevant expertise of Northeastern researchers.

In accordance with the Mecklenburg County Stay-at-Home order announced today, Northeastern’s location in Charlotte will be closed effective Thursday, March 26 through April 16, 2020. Staff will work remotely, and only essential university personnel will be permitted access to these facilities, if and when deemed necessary. Online and remote instruction will continue as planned. Staff are still available by email, phone, and through virtual meetings.

In accordance with the latest guidance from the Governor and public health authorities, effective at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Northeastern’s Massachusetts campuses will be restricted to “on-site essential” employees only. Any employee who needs to retrieve critical items from campus should make arrangements to do so prior to 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.

I am writing to provide an important notice of change to the university’s Pass/Fail grading policy in light of the move to online and remote learning necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The following adjustments have been made to the Pass/Fail grading policy for all Spring 2020 undergraduate courses:

In an effort to keep the Northeastern community continuously informed, we write to provide you with the latest real-time updates about the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consistent with our ongoing efforts to provide up-to-date resources and information, we are writing to notify you that a Northeastern student living in off-campus housing in Boston has tested positive for COVID-19. In keeping with CDC protocols, this first test—conducted at a Boston-area hospital—will need to be verified by the CDC, which may take several days.

We are writing to clarify some important information and answer questions about our request that students move out of Northeastern residence halls in Boston by Tuesday at 5:00 pm. We are aware that this will require students and their families to act expeditiously; the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic requires that we take action to protect public health. In addition, new restrictions on international travel—and possible restrictions on travel within the U.S.—have led to this increased urgency.

Based upon continuing guidance from public health officials, we are requesting that all students who reside in Northeastern residence halls complete their end of semester move-out no later than Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

In light of the ongoing developments relating to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the College will move to online and remote teaching and student support from Monday 16th March, 2020.

Following guidance and recommendations informed by Mecklenburg County Health Department, and the State of North Carolina, and to ensure educational continuity, Northeastern is making the following operational changes to the Charlotte campuses, effective Monday, March 16, 2020 ...

We are asking students to refrain from gathering together in groups to access online course delivery, especially in common areas of university research centers and classroom buildings. Classrooms remain available for study by students and faculty individually, or in small groups observing appropriate density and spacing recommendations.

We write to provide new updates and further clarity on the steps we are taking across a range of academic, student support, and campus operational functions to reduce the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to the university community.

Beginning today, in accordance with guidance from public health authorities and with a goal of reducing density on campus, we are making the following temporary change to the remote work policy…

Beginning tomorrow morning, we will move to online and remote instruction on our Boston campus, the university’s largest and most complex operation. We arrived at this decision carefully and thoughtfully, not precipitously. We are seeking to preserve the essence of a Northeastern education—including current co-op placements—while also taking prudent steps to reduce the risk of infection within our community.

In light of the continuing global impact and community transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)—and in accordance with public health recommendations—we are writing again to share important updates designed to protect the Northeastern community, while maintaining continuity of education and research.

This is the latest in a series of regular messages to keep the Northeastern community updated on planning and decision-making related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We would like to reiterate that there is no higher priority than the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff, and others affiliated with Northeastern.

Notice of change to San Francisco and Silicon Valley campus operations in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Northeastern president pushes for federal protections for F-1 visa-holders in light of COVID-19 measures

Based on the guidance of public health officials in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the university will be offering online teaching exclusively to students of its campus in Seattle beginning Monday, March 9. Classes will be offered online or remotely to Northeastern’s 1,135 Seattle students.

As students and faculty prepare to return from spring break, we are writing to update you on the university’s efforts to monitor and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Following the latest developments in the global spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 and the related public health guidelines, Northeastern is requesting that students, faculty and staff traveling from the countries identified by the Centers for Disease Control as “Level 3” not return to any of the university’s campuses for 14 days following the day they arrive in the U.S., even if they are symptom-free.

As you are well aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak requires Northeastern University to be prepared and resilient to ensure learning and business continuity in the event that students, faculty and staff may not be able to come to campus or attend classes in person. The time to prepare is now.

Northeastern University is continuing to monitor the current 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and university leaders are planning for a broad range of contingencies. We wanted to share with you some important information regarding spring break travel.

Here are a few important updates, including updated travel restrictions in the U.S., U.K., and Canada; upcoming drop-in info sessions for the Northeastern community held on our Boston campus; and a university travel registry we encourage all travelers to use.

This communication includes: important facts, the latest public health guidance related to the virus, and useful prevention techniques, appropriate responses for likely scenarios, and important internal and external resources.