Dear Students and Families,

I write to you today with both positive and sobering news. The positive news is that the state of New Mexico, which has some of the most aggressive COVID-19 containment policies in the country, has done a good job, thus far, of containing COVID-19. Governor Lujan-Grisham has a background in public health and, unlike many state governors, has not allowed New Mexico to move beyond phase one of the federal government’s reopening guidelines. This phase is the most restrictive phase. Because of this, we have experienced low rates of infection across our state, which gives us growing confidence that our students can arrive on time to our campus this fall.

The sobering news is that the virus is very much alive across our nation and in many of the states in our region. As we watch cases rise in Texas, Arizona, and California, we know that New Mexico is at risk from regional spread. Now, with the fall semester close at hand, we must each seriously weigh our health concerns against our desire to experience the St. John’s education in its purest and most inspiring form: in-person and on-campus. This letter, and the links it contains, will lay out in detail what we anticipate this fall so that each of you may knowingly choose the best path forward for you, for your family, and for the values that you hold.

BUILDING AN ON-CAMPUS COMMUNITY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

America has always been a boisterous country full of disagreement and rebellion—and Johnnies are a shining example of these qualities. We are a people and a community full of individuals who must find our own path and voice. This is a beautiful thing. And so, as we build our on-campus community in the time of COVID-19, students must ask whether the on-campus experience is right for them. And the college must know that those who come to campus agree on some fundamental principles. These principles include:

Each of us is responsible for more lives than just our own

Each of us will follow the college’s health and safety protocols for the entire semester

Each of us desires to build a safe and peaceful community through a commitment to shared rules and concern for others

Each of us understands that this will be hard work, but we are dedicated to doing it

If students return to campus without agreeing to these guiding principles, we will have conflict, hurt, and likely serious illness. Remember: our tutors, our grounds people, our cleaners, our cooks, our staff, and our peers are often in age groups or have health issues that pose significant risk should they contract COVID-19. By coming to campus, you are agreeing to care for their health and safety as much as you care for your own.

CHOOSING YOUR PATH: ON-CAMPUS OR ONLINE?

The college plans to offer both an on-campus and an online educational experience to our students. But what will those two experiences be like, and which one is right for you? To understand what the online and on-campus experiences will be like, we have compiled an extensive FAQ to answer these questions. In short, we are urging three groups of students to seriously consider spending the fall semester online:

Students with health and safety concerns

International students with significant travel or visa challenges

Students who do not believe in, and/or who will not comply with, our health and safety protocols

If you are in one of these groups, we urge you to consider selecting the online option for your education this fall.

TESTING AND ISOLATION

The college is taking a strong stance on testing and isolation. We have partnered with Pathology Consultants of New Mexico, which will provide on-site testing of students, staff, and faculty. We have also secured significant new housing options near campus. Upon return to campus, all students will be tested and placed in isolation until test results are in. Length of isolation will be determined by the region you are coming from and the way in which you traveled to campus. All students who test positive will be moved to our new housing units, which will provide individual bathrooms and delivery service for food and essential items.

Most domestic students who have driven to campus will be tested upon arrival and will then self-isolate for 24 hours or until results are in.

Domestic students from states with high infection rates may be asked to return 5–7 days early for two rounds of testing and isolation. We will make this determination and communicate to affected students no later than late July.

Due to the increased exposure times that happen on international flights, we will require students who enter the country via international air to arrive early and be tested twice—once upon arrival and again after the 5–7 day incubation period has passed. While awaiting second tests, students will be housed in college-provided isolation units and support will be provided.

All students who fly and/or who are from COVID-19 hot spots should be aware that the state of New Mexico and/or the federal government could impose a 14-day quarantine requirement at any time. More info on this in the “To Fly or Drive” section below.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​After the college’s first full round of testing has been completed, the college will do regular monthly testing to gauge levels of infection and to inform next steps. All tests will be covered by your insurance and/or the state of New Mexico, and quarantine units will be covered by the college. Tests and regular screenings will also be required for students who live off-campus and for faculty and staff.​​​​​​​

DE-DENSIFICATION

The college has developed numerous policies aimed at lessening the number of people who will be on-campus in order to reduce the likelihood of spread. The college will be closed to all campus visitors who are not providing a service to the college community. All staff who can do their work from home will do so. There will be no large gatherings and events, such as the Dean’s Lecture and Concert Series, which will occur virtually. The weight room will be open but will require appointments. The Meem Library will fulfill orders and is following phased library reopening plans provided by the American Library Association.

The college’s housing policy has shifted to allow sophomores, juniors, and seniors to live off-campus without petitioning. This new policy, combined with the college’s additional housing units and fewer on-campus students, will allow us to de-densify our dorms and apartments. Staggered hours and reconfigurations in the dining hall and coffee shop will help us in de-densifying our dining experiences. In addition, new class schedules and configurations, hybrid classes, and use of outdoor spaces will help us to de-densify the academic experience.

ACADEMICS

Whether you choose to be on-campus this fall or to be online, we commit to delivering the Program in its full integrity. We are fortunate that much of our Program—seminar, preceptorials, and the seminar-style conversation of most classes—translates well to the online environment, and our tutors and IT staff are becoming more adept every day at delivering tutorials and labs online. That said, we know that there is something magical about the in-person experience that can’t be captured online and that most of you hope to be on-campus this fall.

Our on-campus experience will require that we cap indoor classroom capacity at about 10 people. We have a range of options, all of which may be used in various contexts, to adapt to this limitation: Two-tutor seminars may meet in split sections, with rotating tutors and core groups. Other classes may be divided up, also in rotating ways. Independent or small group work may replace some time together in class. Finally, hybrid classrooms, in which some students attend virtually, may be used to de-densify the classroom. We will also have slightly shorter tutorial periods and more class periods over the course of the day, including multiple starting times for seminars, to help stagger arrival and departure times, and de-densify classroom buildings. There are more varieties that you can read about in our FAQ.

TO FLY OR DRIVE: RISKING A 14-DAY QUARANTINE

We are strongly recommending that all students who can drive to campus do so. There are two reasons for this. First, airports and airplanes are two of the highest exposure environments for COVID-19; in short, air travel raises the odds that a student will arrive to campus with COVID-19. Second, the state of New Mexico and the federal government could, based on heightened exposure risks, require 14 days of quarantine for any students who fly into the state. Driving to campus will not only help you to be a safer community member, it could prevent you from having to update flights and secure reimbursements on short notice, and/or quarantine for a full two weeks. Should the federal or state government put this 14-day quarantine restriction in place, we will work with students individually on their arrival, isolation, and academic plans.​​​​​​​

THE OUTDOORS AND STUDENT LIFE

A bright spot in our COVID-19 planning is our easy access to the outdoors and the Rocky Mountains. The college’s trails and outdoor field will remain open for safety-conscious use. We expect the city of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe National Forest trail systems to remain open so long as our state’s infection rates stay low. The Outdoor Program is working on plans for bike rentals, outdoor adventure equipment rentals, and safety-conscious outdoor events. And Student Life is developing student club and activity plans that will take advantage of the outdoors. We invite you all to consider bringing outdoor clothing and gear that will allow you to comfortably enjoy these opportunities.

THANKSGIVING

The college will keep the residence halls open and classes ongoing until our normal end-of-semester date in December. Please note that any student who decides to travel for Thanksgiving will not be allowed back into the residence halls for the remainder of the semester. All students who choose to travel for Thanksgiving should consider this their move-out date for the semester, will complete classes online, and will not receive a housing refund for the rest of the semester.

A MID-SEMESTER SHUTDOWN

The possibility of a mid-semester shutdown is real. Should a significant outbreak occur on our campus, or if the state or federal governments shut down schools, the college will be ready to rapidly pivot to online learning. As happened in the spring, the college will assist students with their move-out, including supplying boxes, shuttles, storage access, and more. Students will not pay for room and board for the remaining time that they are not in our residence halls.

DEADLINES

Important deadlines are close at hand. The college needs to know by July 15 if you prefer to be on-campus or online, and if you want on-campus or off-campus housing. Please make your selections by filling out this survey. If you have questions, incoming students should reach out to your admissions counselor. Returning students should reach out to Christine Guevera, executive director of campus health and wellness, at christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu.

FINANCES

Many of our students, parents, alumni, and donors have asked how the college is doing financially during COVID-19. The good news is that we have spent the last four years tightening our belt, balancing our budget, reducing inefficiencies, and working collegewide across the two campuses to streamline administration. We are two-thirds of the way through our $300 million capital campaign aimed at funding our lowered tuition price, and our goal is in sight. We are very lucky when we compare ourselves to many small private colleges struggling through the pandemic.

But we are not immune to the virus’s economic effects. This year will set us back significantly with the considerable costs of preparing to keep students safe, the loss of this past spring’s housing revenue, the likely loss of significant housing revenue for online students, and the likely loss of tuition revenue from those who choose not to attend college at all this fall. As the college strives to continue serving a population that is less advantaged on average than that of most of our peers, and at a time when these students have been dramatically affected by the pandemic, we will need the help of those in our community who have the means to step forward.

In the meantime, I hope that you are all staying as healthy in body, mind, and spirit as is possible in these tough times. We are thinking of you, and looking forward to seeing you in-person and online this fall.

Regards,

Mark Roosevelt

President St. John’s College, Santa Fe