September 19, 2023
Dear parents and guardians of Yale College students,
It was such a pleasure greeting students, and many of you, during move-in and at the opening assembly. We had a great turnout of upper-level students who helped with unloading, good weather for the weekend's events, and the general excitement that comes with the opening of a new academic year.
Public Health
Now that the year has gotten underway, let me give you some information you can use in the weeks ahead, starting with public health. As with last year, life on campus looks very much as it did before the pandemic, with classes meeting in person, few restrictions on gatherings, and testing available but not required during the semester. Even so, students have received guidance about how and when to test and mask, what to do if they receive a positive COVID-19 result, and how to continue following good public health practices. Fortunately, after a bump at the start of the semester, case numbers are trending downward.
Visitors are welcome on campus, and the university's public health team continues to monitor COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I am very grateful to the public health team for its balanced approach to managing the pandemic, and for keeping the community informed of any necessary changes, as I will with you. I realize that managing information is a challenge for everyone, but you can always find the most current public health guidance on Yale's COVID-19 page.
Mental Health Policies
Before students arrived, Dean of Students Melanie Boyd wrote to the community to highlight recent policy changes related to mental health, about expanded support available to students, and about options for taking time away and returning if they ever wish to. I recognize that many students may not need to avail themselves of these options, but they can always discuss them with their residential college dean if they ever want to explore them. These changes have come in response to thoughtful input from students and alumni, and they are designed to expand students' options for getting support and making their health and well-being their top priority.
Family Weekend
Family Weekend begins Friday, October 6, and ends Sunday, October 8, 2023. In-person and select livestreamed programming will both be available. A schedule of events is available on the family weekend website, which is being updated continually.
If you plan on coming to New Haven, you can help with planning by registering by Monday, September 25. Registration is encouraged but not required.
If you plan to join remotely, key speaker events will be live streamed wherever possible, and recordings made available after events on the family weekend website.
Here are some highlights of the weekend's events:
- On Friday, you can attend lectures by our prize-winning faculty, then a panel that I will be moderating on Teaching at Yale.
- On Saturday, you can attend a university update from President Salovey and me, a panel on student life, a family brunch at the Schwarzman Center, receptions in the residential colleges, and student performances.
- On Sunday, you can attend art exhibits and enjoy a meal with your student at a local New Haven restaurant or residential dining hall before saying your goodbyes.
- Religious services will be held on and near campus.
If you have any questions or concerns, please write to student.engagement@yale.edu.
Let me close by inviting you to follow me on my new Instagram account, which I created last year as a way to showcase some of the events on and around campus that I attend. You can see some great photos submitted by Yalies of how they spent their summers and these first few weeks of the semester. As you will see, the year has begun with a sense of excitement and potential for the year ahead.
With best wishes from campus,
Pericles Lewis
Dean of Yale College
Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature
Professor of English