Williams students, faculty and staff, I’m writing to share this afternoon’s happy news that the government is rescinding its July 6 directive and July 7 FAQs on international students, and returning to its March 2020 guidance. This means international students will be able to study in the U.S. even if they’re… Continue reading »

Williams students, faculty and staff, On Monday, ICE (the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) announced a new federal guidance that will prohibit international students at American colleges and universities from returning to or remaining in this country if they’re enrolled in an online-only curriculum this fall. In short,… Continue reading »

Dear Williams community, I’m writing to inform you that Williams plans to convene an in-person semester for fall 2020. Our plan includes extraordinary public health measures for everyone’s protection, options for people who are unable to come to campus because of medical or other concerns, and a full curriculum of hybrid and remote courses. These measures will provide flexibility for all, as well as protections for international students and those from vulnerable populations, and for everyone residing on or working on campus... Continue reading »

Today I’m writing to announce the model that the college will employ for the 2020-21 academic year, regardless of whether we hold fall courses in person or remotely, and to introduce a second working group that will develop plans for implementing this approach if we’re unable to hold in-person classes in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021... Continue reading »

Williams staff and faculty, With everyone working remotely or coming to campus on rotation, it’s even more important than usual that we (President Mandel and Provost Love) and our fellow administrators regularly share what’s happening at Williams. Recently, a number of people on campus have asked how decisions will be… Continue reading »

April 28, 2020 Dear members of the Williams Community, As I wrote in a letter last week, I am in the process of establishing two working groups, one focused on identifying the operational requirements of opening and successfully returning for a residential fall semester, and the other focused on what would be required to pursue alternative scenarios if we are unable to hold a conventional fall term. Continue reading »

April 23, 2020 Williams faculty, staff and students, In higher education, a great deal of attention is now shifting to the questions of whether schools will reopen in the fall and what reopening might look like. Uncertainty about these and so many issues is hampering decision-making for the entire college community. Continue reading »

April 9, 2020 To the Williams community, As we return to the semester in a new mode, the college is continuing to track the COVID-19 pandemic and think about how we can mitigate or manage for its impact in the future. Recent college announcements about this issue have focused on very immediate concerns... Continue reading »

Williams students, faculty and staff, It has become a Williams tradition for the president to send a start of semester message on the first day of the fall and spring terms. Today I want to offer what I’ll call a “restart of semester” message, with good wishes for you all. Continue reading »

Williams students, families, faculty and staff, Over the last few weeks, Williams has been assessing the question of whether or not to hold commencement and reunion, in light of the pandemic’s progress and impact. I have decided, reluctantly and with significant disappointment, that the college cannot safely hold a traditional… Continue reading »