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 »

Dear Williams community, We have entered into an unprecedented period in national and global history. Clearly, for Williams this has also been a historically challenging moment: one which has forced actions we never imagined would be needed. I know that members of the Williams community are doing the utmost to… Continue reading »

To the Williams community, Many of you have written to express concern about the pandemic’s effects on our community, including the college closure and its impact on the local economy. As you may know, hotels across the northern Berkshires are seeing reservations drop to near zero. Most such establishments in… Continue reading »

Dear Williams faculty and staff, The last two weeks have been among the most challenging of my career, and, I can only presume, of yours as well. Thank you for all you have done to help with our difficult transition. Many students and families have told me that, in a moment… Continue reading »