October 2, 2020

Dear students,

We are at the end of the fifth week of the semester, a good moment to pause and think about how things are going for you, not only with your physical health but also with your classes, your other commitments, and your overall well-being. We are living in a time that brings new challenges every day -- to social justice, financial stability, and public health -- increasing the effort it takes to manage even routine obligations. Remember that there are many people here to help you: residential college heads and deans, cultural center directors and assistant directors, peer liaisons, first-year counselors, coaches, chaplains, and your instructors. You can talk to any of them. You can also find other campus resources to help you on the Being Well at Yale website and the Good Life Center website.

Many of you are looking for opportunities to spend time with each other, in person, to balance the time you are spending on your own. If you need places to study together or if you are planning meetings, remember that spaces in certain classroom buildings are available to you as long as you follow all proper safety guidelines. Although the classrooms are not for parties, they are an option for lower-key socializing. You can find the list of designated classroom buildings here, and you can reserve rooms in them here; the buildings that are not on the list are restricted for in-person classes and research only.

You are also welcome to host or attend small social gatherings in your suites or off-campus housing -- again following all public safety guidelines: no more than one guest per resident, no more than ten people total, with face coverings and physical distancing. You can find guidelines for planning parties here, and you can always schedule a conversation about hosting skills with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Harm Reduction Initiative here.

And please use and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, particularly while the weather is still warm. Be neighborly, of course, and choose your locations well to preserve the quiet in the residential colleges for the students who live in them. Cross Campus, Old Campus, and the Stiles-Morse Crescent are great spots if you need more room.

Keep up the good work -- avoid gatherings of more than ten people, stay six feet apart from one another, clean your hands often, and keep your face covered -- and have a great weekend and week ahead.

Marvin M. Chun
Dean of Yale College
Richard M. Colgate Professor of Psychology; Neuroscience; Cognitive Science