Smith Plans In-Person Fall Semester

Smith College today announced plans to invite all students to campus in the fall for in-person classes.

In an email to the campus community, President Kathleen McCartney said the decision was informed by Smith’s spring semester experience to date, the increased availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, and current public health guidance.

"I look forward to meeting our new students and to celebrating the joys of living, learning and working together in this remarkable community,” McCartney wrote in her email to the community. “I hope you are as encouraged and energized as I am by what awaits us this fall."

Smith’s fall semester classes will begin on Thursday, Sept. 2.

Other highlights of the plan:

• Classes will be taught in person in classrooms, labs, studios and other facilities. 
• Housing will return to traditional capacity, and all Smith students will be able to live on campus (unless granted an exception through the off-campus lottery or the normal petition process).
• In-person work schedules for Smith staff and faculty will be implemented in advance of the fall semester.
• Pandemic precautions (e.g., physical distancing, mask wearing) will likely be necessary at some level; details will be released closer to the beginning of the fall semester.
• Smith has strongly urged all community members who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated as soon possible. The college is considering requiring the vaccine for the fall, subject to medical and religious exemptions. If the college opts to require the vaccine, advance notice will be provided.

President McCartney’s email to the community linked to a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and noted that, as always, changes in the larger pandemic context may require changes in plans at Smith

Details of Smith’s in-person fall semester will be updated regularly on Smith’s Culture of Care website.