*Published March. 5, 2020*
To All Members of the Northeastern Community,
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.
We want to assure you that the health and safety of the university community is paramount. We remain in close communication with public health agencies and experts—including some on our own faculty—to learn from and follow their recommendations.
University leaders have been engaged in extensive contingency planning efforts throughout the last several weeks to ensure business and educational continuity. The university is committed to making sure that all students are able to complete their Spring semester coursework on time and without disruption.
We understand that many of you may have questions, particularly about coming to campus for work or classes.
All Northeastern campuses, with the exception of Seattle, remain open for business as usual. The likelihood of being exposed to the virus in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. remains very low. Should it become necessary to close a campus or restrict in-person contact, the university will make such a determination in consultation with the relevant public health authorities and experts.
Unless you are returning from a CDC Level 3 country or region within the last 14 days, faculty and staff are expected to work in accordance with their normal schedules. Faculty and staff with questions about their work location and/or schedule should contact the Senior Human Resources Business Partner assigned to your college or department.
Similarly, students are expected to attend classes according to their regular schedules. Students with questions about studying or attending classes remotely should contact WeCare at 617-373-7591 or via email at wecare@northeastern.edu.
Finally, should you have any questions, we encourage you to continue to check the university’s COVID-19 website for the latest answers to Frequently Asked Questions, health recommendations, and changes to university programs and policies.
We recognize that this can be a stressful time for many members of our community. We encourage you to take steps to safeguard your personal health and to minimize disease transmission to the community.
Above all, we appreciate your resilience in the face of this uncertainty and look forward to a successful conclusion to the spring semester for all.
Sincerely,
Kenneth W. Henderson
Chancellor
Michael Armini
Senior Vice President for External Affairs