COVID-19 Announcements and FAQs

COVID-19 Announcements and FAQs

Announcements from Dean Marvin Chun

Frequently Asked Questions

The information on this page is being updated frequently. Please check back often.

Last updated August 13, 2020

Important Notice

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued new rules that have potentially serious implications for our international students. President Salovey has issued this response, and the university has sent this message to affected students.

Policy Summary

Policies and information about enrollment status -- enrolled in residence, enrolled remotely, and on leave – are summarized, below.

Returning to Campus

Academics

Public Health

Life on campus

Life off campus

Arts (New August 11, 2020)

For more information

Policy Summary

Enrolled in residence (Updated August 3, 2020)

Students in this group have been invited to be part of the residential community and have accepted that invitation. They will have access to campus, participate in the community compact, and be required to undergo twice weekly viral testing.

Students enrolled in residence fall into these categories:

  • First-year students in the fall living on campus;
  • Sophomores in the spring living on campus;
  • Juniors and seniors living on campus;
  • Juniors and seniors living off campus but in the neighborhoods adjacent to it or within commuting distance and who expect to interact with the residential community;
  • Other students with special permission to live on campus.

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Enrolled remotely

Students in this group will not be part of the residential community. They will not have access to campus (with the exception of the health center), they will not be eligible for routine testing, and they are asked to avoid interacting with the residential community for reasons of public health.

Students enrolled remotely fall into these categories:

  • Eligible members of the enrolled-in-residence cohort, above, who decline the invitation to be part of the residential community, regardless of their residential location;
  • Enrolled first-year students in the spring, regardless of their residential location, unless they have received special permission to live on campus for the spring semester;
  • Enrolled sophomores in the fall, regardless of their residential location, unless they have received special permission to live on campus for the fall semester.

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On leave

Students who are on a leave of absence, regardless of their residential location.

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Summary table

  Enrolled in residence Enrolled remotely On leave
Community compact, including regular viral testing Yes No No
Access to campus, including residential colleges Yes None None
Cost of Attendance Full Reduced None
Campus Job Priority #1 Financial aid; #2 Others #2 Remote only #3 Remote only
Participation in Student Organizations Yes Remote only Remote only

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Returning to Campus

Can I ship items to myself during the quarantine period? (August 13, 2020)

Yes. During the 14-day quarantine period for undergraduate students, packages addressed to the Student Package Receiving Center at 250 Church Street will be redelivered daily to each of the residential colleges and Old Campus. Email notifications will be sent to each student once the packages are available for pickup. Students will receive communication from their respective colleges on pickup location and hour of operation.

Please address all UPS, DHL, USPS, Fed Ex and Amazon packages following the sample below:

Your Name
Yale University
Residential College or Dormitory Name
250 Church Street, Lower Level
New Haven, CT 06510-1714

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When may I return to New Haven?

First-year students, juniors, and seniors may return to New Haven in late August. Sophomores may return to New Haven in the spring semester (most likely beginning January 2021).

Juniors and seniors may remain in residence throughout the academic year, except for a quiet period from November 21, 2020, to January 2021, when students are expected to return home if possible.

Because of the need to reduce housing density, juniors and seniors who wish to live on campus needed to confirm by July 20 their intention to live on campus so that housing can be reassigned, if necessary, in order to accommodate social distancing. Most seniors' and some juniors' housing will not be changed, but by early August juniors and seniors living on campus will receive housing assignments, whether changed or unchanged. By then, they will also receive information about how to accept them -- or relinquish them without financial penalty -- and how to schedule a day and time to move into their rooms starting the week of August 24, following a schedule that accommodates social distancing.

You will be contacted by your residential college dean’s office about the specific date and time of your move-in, and you will need to sign up for a viral test on the day you arrive. For most students, you will have to quarantine in your room until the results of your initial test are available, which should be within 24-36 hours. There will be some flexibility with arrival dates for students arriving from overseas or from states subject to quarantine. Students living on campus coming from overseas or from certain states with a high prevalence of COVID-19 may have to complete government quarantine requirements of up to 14 days after move-in and will be housed accordingly.

Undergraduates living off campus should plan to arrive in New Haven in the second half of August and sign up for a viral test within two days of their planned arrival date. Like on-campus students, they will participate in required weekly viral testing and may be subject to self-quarantine in their off-campus apartments for up to 14 days, depending on government requirements.

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I missed the deadline for responding to the survey about my plans for the fall. What I do now? (New July 22, 2020)

If you are a first-year student and did not respond before the deadline, your status has been set to "enrolled in residence." If you are a sophomore, junior, or senior and did not respond before the deadline, your status has been set to "enrolled remotely." You will be able to confirm or change this status before the start of the term; in the coming weeks, the registrar's office will write to all students asking them to review their status for the fall of 2020.

If you are a returning student and wish to live on campus -- whether or not you secured housing through last spring's room draws -- write to yale.college@yale.edu, use "Housing Request" in the subject line, and in your message indicate your class year and residential college. You will be added to a wait list for housing and will receive notification in early August.

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If I belong to one of the following categories of students, may I get tested regularly and have access to campus? (New July 14, 2020)

  • Sophomore in the fall term
  • First-year in the spring term
  • Any class year that is enrolled remotely
  • On leave of absence

No. These categories of students will not have access to campus and are strongly discouraged from coming to New Haven and interacting with the campus community. The planning for public safety depends on reducing the density of students on campus and around New Haven. Capacity for viral testing allows for students enrolled in residence. Capacity does not allow for students in other categories.

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What if I decide that studying from home is the best option for me?

You may elect to study from home. You will be charged full tuition but will not be charged room and board and will receive financial aid based on the cost of attendance for remote learners. If you are studying from home, you may continue to work remotely on research projects and other activities. In order to reduce travel and density on campus, you will not be permitted entry to buildings on campus.

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What if I decide to take a leave of absence or postpone my matriculation? (Updated July 14, 2020)

If you are sophomore, junior, or senior, you may declare a leave of absence for one or two terms, just as you would in any other semester. Leaves in 2020-2021 will not count toward the usual two-term limit on leaves. The last day to request a leave is September 14, 2020.

If you are a first-year student, you may not take a leave of absence for this fall term but you may take a leave of absence for the spring semester, or request to postpone your matriculation until fall 2021 (i.e., take a gap year). If you are a first-year student and wish to take a gap year before enrolling, you should submit a request to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by July 15.

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May I take a leave of absence if I was reinstated for returning to campus in the fall of 2020? (New July 30, 2020)

Yes. Students who by action of the Committee on Reinstatement are reinstated to the fall 2020 term may postpone their return until spring 2021 by requesting a leave of absence for fall 2020. No further reinstatement application will be required.

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How do I request a leave of absence? (Updated July 9, 2020)

Click here to request a leave of absence. [If you have trouble logging in, please contact the ITS Student Help Desk at 203-432-9000, or get ITS help here]. Your information will automatically populate into the form. You will then have the choice of requesting a leave for Fall 2020, for Spring 2021, or for both terms.

If you are in academic good standing, your request for a leave of absence will be approved.

Once you have been approved for a leave of absence for the Fall 2020 term, you may cancel it no later than 5 pm ET on the first day of classes in the term, August 31, 2020.

The deadline to request a leave of absence is 5:00pm Eastern Time, on September 14, 2020.

At the conclusion of your leave of absence, you need only return to enrollment in the following term. If you wish to contract for on-campus housing for that term, alert your dean’s office to this fact as soon as possible. Even if you do not want on-campus housing, you should still alert your dean’s office to your planned return, if only as a courtesy, even as there is no formal process to go through when you return from a leave of absence. 

[Note: If you are a first-year student entering for your first term at Yale, you are not eligible to take a leave of absence during their first term of enrollment. You may, however, request to postpone your matriculation until fall 2021 (i.e., take a gap year). If you are a first-year student and wish to take a gap year before enrolling, you should submit a request to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by July 15. 

More information about leaves of absence is available in the Yale College Programs of Study. 

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I am currently outside the United States. What options do I have?

We are working hard to assist international students in getting their visas, but we recognize that many international students may be unable to return to campus in time for the August start date. You may enroll in remote classes while you arrange your travel. If you are a new student, please consult the OISS FAQ for Newly Admitted Students for updated information about visa issues and travel concerns.

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I do not belong to a class that’s permitted to return to campus for in-residence education. But I have an extenuating circumstance and would like permission to live on campus. What should I do? (Updated July 14, 2020)

Sophomores whose living situations make it impossible for them to stay home may apply for exceptional permission to live on campus in the fall semester, and first-year students whose living situations make it impossible for them to return home may apply for exceptional permission to live on campus in the spring semester. We will allocate some rooms for students whose home environment does not support remote learning. Each petition will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on emancipation or homelessness, technology problems that cannot be remedied, students coming from abroad -- except from Canada -- immigration status, disabilities, or other personal reasons.

Submit a request for permission to live on campus. The deadline is July 20.

First-year students who are international citizens coming from abroad (including all international locations except Canada) and who arrive by mid-term (October 14) will be permitted to stay in residence for the whole academic year.

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I contracted to live in a room/suite with my group of friends. Can I expect the same housing arrangement?

No. In order to decrease housing density, many housing assignments for returning students will be modified so that each student will be living in a single bedroom, and juniors will be housed in both the residential colleges and on the Old Campus. While every effort will be made to make sure students who contracted to live together will continue to live close to each other, we cannot guarantee specific configurations. More information about campus housing and how to reapply for it will be available before July 20.

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How will housing assignments be modified to put everyone in single bedrooms?

The answer varies by class year.

Most seniors are already in singles, so most of their room assignments can be preserved, except in rare cases when a room may need to be reassigned for public health reasons. Seniors who were in doubles will be reassigned to rooms within their colleges, either on their own or in a suite with the person who would have been their roommate.

First-years will be assigned to suites within their colleges; Old Campus does not have enough bedrooms to accommodate them in single bedrooms.

Juniors, who often live in doubles, will be most affected. Every effort will be made to keep existing suite groups intact by reassigning those students into multiple suites on the same floor or entryway. Juniors will still live with some or all of their originally chosen suitemates.  If it becomes necessary for you to share a suite with someone not in your original housing assignment, we will consult with you before finalizing the new arrangement. Given the need to spread students out, some juniors will remain in the residential colleges while others will be assigned to Old Campus.

When housing reassignments are announced in early August, students will have the option to decline them without incurring a fee.

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What are the plans for move-in?

Students will sign up for a specific time slot for fall semester move in during the week of August 24. This will ensure adherence to all public health guidance on social distancing. A process will be announced later this summer. 

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What are plans for storage (furniture and boxes), linens, laundry, refrigerators, etc.?

Student belongings on campus will be packed up, so that the university can clean and conduct maintenance in preparation for the fall semester.

If you are returning to live on campus for the fall term, you may leave all belongings on campus. There is no fee for this storage.  If you choose to leave your belongings, they will be moved to your new room. If you plan to live off campus, you must retrieve your items prior to the start of the fall term.

If you will not be returning to campus for the coming fall term, but plan to be here in the spring term or fall term of 2021, your belongings can be stored for you at no cost, or your shippable belongings can be sent to a U.S. address.  

If you would like to return to campus or send a proxy (e.g., another student, a friend, relative, moving company) to retrieve your belongings, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible by July 20.  The sooner you reply, the more likely your belongings can be left intact for you to pack.  

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What dates are relevant for students returning to Yale College?

July 20: The deadline to apply for campus housing. The usual fee to relinquish housing is waived for all returning students. You should indicate whether you plan to come to campus in the fall, live off campus in the New Haven area (juniors and senior only), study from home (voluntarily or because you are a sophomore), or take a leave of absence.

August 1: Term bills will be released, based on whether you will be on campus, contracted to live off campus in New Haven, or studying from home.

By early August: Housing assignments for returning students will be announced, along with instructions for how you can schedule your return to campus.

August 10-21: Early course registration period.

August 21: Course selection is due, followed by a shop, add, drop period extending through the first week of classes.

August 24: Students will be invited to campus in stages. You will be informed when you may arrive on campus.

August 31: Classes Start

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What fees will change? (Updated August 12, 2020)

For the fall term of 2020, the housing relinquishment fee is waived; students who relinquish housing after August 31 will only be charged a per diem room and board rate. (No room or board charges apply between August 24 and August 30.)

In addition, students arriving after August 31 will not be charged for the room and board they do not use from August 31 until the day before they arrive.

Once relinquished, housing is not available for the rest of the semester.

Rebates of other undergraduate charges follow standard policy.

The fall term student activities fee will be reduced to $25. This will not affect the budgets of student organizations.

There will be no extra charge for face coverings, testing, or isolation or quarantine housing.

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Academics

May I enroll in two courses that overlap, either partially or entirely, if they are taught asynchronously? (New August 14, 2020)

Yes, as a special accommodation for the fall term of 2020, and only if you request and receive permission from your residential college dean. To make this request, include both courses' names and numbers, the instructors' names, and written approval from both instructors. In addition to providing the permission of both instructors, your request must:

  • attest that any synchronous components of the courses do not overlap by more than 15 minutes;
  • explain how enrollment in the two courses is possible, despite the conflict in published meeting times (examples: one of the courses has an asynchronous option; the instructor of one of the courses is providing recorded lectures; etc.); and
  • confirm that the final exams for the two courses are not offered at the same time.

If you have questions about enrolling in overlapping courses, consult first with the instructors of the courses, and then with your residential college dean.

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Will there be a mandatory Registration meeting for the fall term? Will I be fined if I miss it? (New August 14, 2020)

No to both questions. The registrar’s office and Student Financial Services will accept students’ act of pre-registration as confirmation of their intent to enroll. College deans may hold community meetings, at which some academic information may be covered, but those meetings will not be mandatory for fall 2020, and the deans will email all students a written version of any important academic reminders.

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How will courses be taught?

Most Yale College courses will be offered online, featuring live Zoom seminars and a mix of live and recorded lectures. The faculty and staff are working hard to provide the best possible courses online, incorporating feedback from last semester’s and this summer’s online courses.

Some discussion sections, lab courses, studio courses, and collections-based courses will be offered in person, with smaller enrollments to allow for physical distancing and observance of all other precautions under public health guidance in force at the time the programs start.

Where possible, there may be some associated in-person component for courses that take place in an otherwise online fashion.

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What is the academic calendar for fall semester?

Date Event
August Schools of Architecture, Law, Management, and Medicine will begin during August
August 24 Students in Yale College begin returning to campus in phases through August 30
August 31 Yale College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences begin classes
August 31 Schools of Art, Divinity, Drama, the Environment, Music, Nursing, and Public Health will also begin the week of August 31
November 20 Yale College in-person classes end; the last week of instruction, reading period, and final exams would take place online
December A “quiet period” with in-person activity on campus kept to a minimum
December 4 End of classes in Yale College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
December 18 Fall 2020 semester ends for Yale College, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and select professional schools

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Can I enroll part time, taking one or two classes? (New July 9, 2020)

A student may not enroll in a program of study worth fewer than three course credits in one term. A student enrolled for three course credits may withdraw from one course credit between midterm and the first day of the reading period, receiving the neutral designation W (Withdrew) in that course. Similarly, a student enrolled for four or more course credits may withdraw from one or more courses as described above, but at no time may any student carry a schedule of courses that will earn fewer than two course credits in a term. More information is available at http://catalog.yale.edu/ycps/academic-regulations/course-credits-course-loads/. Any student who fails to earn more than two course credits in a single term is placed on Academic Warning. For more information, see Academic Penalties and Restrictions in the Yale College Programs of Study.

Please note that varsity athletes, international students on an F-1 visa, and ROTC candidates may have strict minimum enrollment requirements. If you fall into one or more of these categories, and if you are considering enrolling in only three course credits in August, and later dropping to two course credits and a W after Midterm in October, consult with the appropriate office. (Athletics, the Office of International Students and Scholars, or your Commander) to ensure that you do not endanger your eligibility or visa status.

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Can I take courses from another university during my leave of absence? (New July 9, 2020)

Yes; a student may apply as many as two course credits earned at another college or university toward the 36-course-credit requirement for graduation from Yale College; please see http://catalog.yale.edu/ycps/academic-regulations/credit-from-other-universities/ for more information about outside credit policies. Many universities will offer courses online rather than in person during the coming academic year; under the Academic Regulations, online courses can earn Yale credit only if they include regular, synchronous interaction with the instructor, as well as regular feedback; additionally, online courses cannot be applied to distributional requirements (with a rare exception for languages not taught at Yale).

Other criteria and restrictions apply; please consult the full regulations on outside credits here.

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I was planning on studying abroad. Where can I get more information? (New July 30, 2020)

Please see the student abroad FAQ.

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What is the academic calendar for spring semester?

To date, there has been no change in the spring semester calendar. If a second wave of COVID-19 affects Connecticut in the fall, the start of spring semester may be postponed. This decision will be announced in mid-November.

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What is the grading policy in Yale College?

Yale College will return to the usual letter grade policies, with no provision for a universal pass/fail system.

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Will there be a course selection period?

Yale College will adopt a pre-registration system that provides more advance planning while preserving students’ ability to explore and discover new courses: https://courses.yale.edu/.

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What are the special arrangements for the 2021 summer session courses available to first-year students and sophomores? (Updated July 9, 2020)

First-year students and sophomores who enroll for both the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, with at least one term taken remotely, will be eligible to take two courses in Yale Summer Session in the summer of 2021; the special arrangement covers tuition for two courses, whether taken in one of the two five-week sessions, or spread out across both, and whether taken on or away from campus, in person or online. Yale Summer Session Study Abroad programs are not included in this arrangement. Additional financial support for on-campus room and board will be available that summer to eligible first-year students and sophomores who also receive financial aid.

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Will the museums be open for teaching and research? (Updated July 22, 2020)

Yes, the Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art will be available by appointment.The Yale Peabody Museum’s collections are open, but its galleries are closed for renovations.

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Will the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning be open?

The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning will be open on a by-appointment basis and will also provide a full range of online services.

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Public Health

What is Yale doing to reduce the risk of infection spreading among students, faculty, staff, and community members?

Yale began reactivation of on-campus research on June 1. Following guidelines from the State of Connecticut and the expert advice of Yale faculty in medicine, nursing, and public health, the university has developed phased Returning to Yale plans that include testing, contact tracing, self-isolation and quarantine, daily health checks, social distancing and face coverings. We are also reducing housing density in Yale College and some dormitory-style graduate residences. The university is following a careful, phased approach to resuming operations on campus, taking into consideration public health guidance, the needs of vulnerable populations, and the mission of the university.

Faculty at Yale and at the Yale New Haven Hospital have been active in treating COVID-19 and researching the biology and the transmission of the underlying coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Although Connecticut was originally one of the hardest-hit states, the rate of transmission (Rt) in the state as of July 1 is below 1, and as a result the number of new cases has fallen consistently since late April.

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What would cause the university to change its plans?

The university will follow guidance from the State of Connecticut that requires a change to these plans. See https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus.

If the public health situation worsens considerably in the next few weeks, the return to campus will be delayed. In that case, all courses – undergraduate, graduate, and professional – will be conducted exclusively through on-line delivery until the public health situation changes.

If the public health situation worsens considerably during the fall semester, students should be prepared to “stay-in-place” in their place of residence, whether residential colleges, other on-campus residences, or off-campus apartments. For those with meal plans, the university will continue to provide meals during any stay-in-place period. Classes would be held exclusively online during such a time.

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What public health guidelines will I be required to follow?

All students, trainees, faculty, and staff will be required to follow public health requirements in place at the time in-person activity resumes. Although the health risks to young people are in general less severe, it is essential that students comply with social distancing, face coverings, testing, contact tracing, self-isolation, quarantine, and other protocols not only for their own sake but also in order to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus to other community members including those in more vulnerable populations. Current public health guidance includes:

  • All members of the university community will be expected to wear face coverings except when in their residential suites, or alone in their offices or when eating, or exercising outdoors.
  • The university will supply face coverings and other necessary supplies to all students, trainees, faculty, and staff.
  • All university community members must observe social distancing requirements.
  • All individuals living, working, or studying on campus will be asked to monitor their health daily for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
  • Students must undergo viral testing according to the requirements in place for the Yale school in which they are enrolled and must follow any resultant isolation and quarantine requirements.
  • All university community members will share responsibility for regular hand-washing, surface cleaning, and other required hygiene.
  • All faculty, staff, students, and trainees will follow the detailed guidelines outlined below.

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What happens if I do not comply with social distancing guidelines?

If a student repeatedly or flagrantly fails to comply with public health guidelines, they may be removed from campus. Please carefully review the community compact and the provisions for enforcement here.

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Must I wear a face covering?

Yes, all students, trainees, faculty, staff, and visitors must wear face coverings except when in their own residential college suite or apartment or alone in an office or when eating or exercising outdoors. Wearing a face covering is one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

All members of the community should follow social distancing guidelines and good hygiene, including at meals.

People exercising outdoors need not wear face coverings as long as they maintain six feet distance from others. Rules for indoor exercise will follow state and public health guidelines.

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What are the requirements for social distancing?

In general, people should maintain six feet of distance from others whenever possible, including in classrooms, communal living spaces, and other campus locations. People living in the same suite or apartment will be considered a “family unit,” and it is not necessary to maintain distance from suitemates.

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What are the arrangements for viral testing?

All students will be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival in New Haven. The cost of required testing for students, trainees, staff, and faculty will be covered by the university.

All students living in university housing and all undergraduates

Because of the particularly dense housing arrangements in university housing and the frequent interactions among students, all undergraduates and all graduate and professional students living in dormitory-style university housing will be required to be tested twice weekly.

Quarantine requirements

Students living abroad may be subject to a 14-day quarantine after arriving in the United States. Students living in states with high prevalence of COVID-19 may also be subject to a 14-day quarantine after arriving in Connecticut.

If you have symptoms

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should stay home and avoid interactions with others. These symptoms currently include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell 
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Consult Yale Health’s website for recommendations about managing your symptoms and deciding whether to contact your healthcare provider.

If you have questions about COVID-19 at Yale, please call the Campus COVID Resource Line at 203-432-6604.

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What if I test positive?

Those who test positive will generally be required to self-isolate for 14 days. If you test positive before traveling, please wait 14 days before traveling to Yale.

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How will the university trace contacts of those who test positive?

The university has trained contact tracers who will identify close contacts and ask them to quarantine for 14 days. Testing will be recommended for all sustained contacts of anyone who tests positive.

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When will I be expected to self-isolate or self-quarantine?

Self-isolation applies to those who test positive for COVID-19. Self-quarantine applies to those who may have been in contact with an infected person or who are traveling from an area where COVID-19 is prevalent. Students who test positive will usually self-isolate in designated buildings on campus or in their normal housing off-campus. Students who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive will self-quarantine in their own housing or in designated buildings on campus, depending on the results of contact tracing.

In addition, those arriving from international destinations or states with high prevalence may be required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the State of Connecticut to self-quarantine for 14 days. The State of Connecticut requires a 14 day quarantine for travelers arriving from certain other U.S. states ( see current list at CT.gov).

Those who are in quarantine or in self-isolation will be able to take their courses online or through other remote options.

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How can I learn more about public health requirements?

The university is requiring completion of a training program by all students, trainees, faculty, and staff prior to their return to campus. Please see the “Mandatory training for everyone returning to campus” section on the Health & Safety Guidelines page.

Yale also will establish rules regarding visitors to campus, travel away from campus, and other requirements to limit transmission of the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers guidance on living in shared housing.

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What if I am at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19?

We recommend that students with health conditions that make them especially vulnerable to COVID-19 consider remote options for study. Yale staff should consult the “Accommodations for Staff Returning to Campus” page or contact the Employee Service Center. Faculty should refer to the first question in the Faculty and Staff section above.

See guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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I have a hearing disability and need to read lips. Face coverings and social distancing will make this impossible. What accommodations will be made?

Most classes will have an online option that does not require wearing face coverings. For students with hearing disabilities in in-person classes, their instructors and classmates will be provided with special transparent face coverings or face shields to allow lip-reading.

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Life on campus

Will I have access to campus if I am living off campus? (Updated July 30, 2020)

Juniors and seniors enrolled in residence but living off campus will have access to campus, but not those on a leave of absence or enrolled remotely, regardless of location. In order to reduce travel and on-campus density, first-year students and sophomores will not have access to the campus during the semesters in which they are studying from home.

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If I am living on campus, will I be able to eat in the dining hall?

Yale Dining will operate with additional service locations, extended hours in some locations, and frequent cleaning and sanitizing. Packaged take-out meals, grab-and-go, and pre-ordered meals will be available in all dining halls, with special provision for those with dietary restrictions and allergies. Seating in college dining halls will be reduced in order to provide social distancing, but additional seating will be provided in common rooms, courtyards, and other locations. Because of reduced capacity, seating within the dining hall will be limited to college residents.

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Can I have visitors?

In the fall semester, visits to campus by people who are not Yale students, faculty, or staff are discouraged. These limits will be reviewed in mid-November in accordance with prevailing public health guidance. No non-Yale visitors will be allowed in the residential colleges.

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What meetings and gatherings will be permitted?

The university will limit the size of gatherings both indoors and out to accommodate social distancing and conform to density guidelines and state rules. Classrooms and other common spaces will have reduced capacity. All who are gathered in groups of any size must wear face coverings and stay six feet away from each other.

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May I visit classmates from other residential colleges and access spaces within my residential college?

Students may go to many spaces on campus, including visiting other residential colleges, as long as they wear face coverings and maintain social distancing. Certain spaces, such as buttery kitchens, other student kitchens, and residential colleges gyms, will be closed until public health guidance indicates that it is safe to reopen them. 

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Will there be places to study and socialize outside of the residential colleges and classrooms?

Yes, most facilities on campus will be open, with social distancing in force. While the weather is good, we encourage you to use outdoor spaces, as the risk of transmission of the coronavirus is lower outdoors.

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Will I be able to study in the library?

Yes, most libraries on campus will be open, with changes to seating, hours, and some services.

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May I take a student job on campus or remotely? (New July 14, 2020)

Maybe. Social distancing constraints are expected to reduce the number and variety of student jobs, so the highest priority for employment will be given to students enrolled in residence who are on financial aid. Second priority will be given to other enrolled students.

On July 1, this FAQ advised students on leave that they could not take campus jobs, even remote ones. In response to questions about this policy, public health experts confirmed that students on leave cannot work on campus. This decision is guided by safety concerns; the community needs to maintain a low density of students on campus and not overburden the community’s testing capacity. As an update to the July 1 announcement, students on leave can be considered for jobs that can be conducted remotely, but those jobs are not guaranteed, and students enrolled in residence will receive higher priority even for those jobs.

When a student job is posted, all interested students can apply, but priority for filling them follows this order:

  1. For the first two weeks after a new student job is posted or until September 14 (whichever is later), it will only be offered to students receiving financial aid and who are enrolled in residence.
  2. After a new student job has been posted for two weeks or September 14 (whichever is later), and after the Student Employment Office has determined that no other qualified student on aid is seeking the position, it may be offered to other enrolled students as the second priority, and then remote jobs can be offered to students on leave as the third priority. Federal work-study funds cannot be used to pay students on leave.
  3. Some student jobs, such as Undergraduate Learning Assistants, need to be filled well before September 14, so they will post earlier deadlines with priority given to enrolled students receiving financial aid, approved to live on or near campus.

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I normally conduct research in a laboratory. Will I have access to the lab? (Updated July 15, 2020)

Maybe. Only students enrolled in residence will have access to campus, including labs and on-campus jobs; however, students enrolled remotely or on leave are eligible to participate remotely. For more information, see the FAQ about campus jobs.

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What athletics programs will continue? (Updated July 9, 2020)

Ivy League varsity sports have been canceled for the fall of 2020, and a decision about spring 2021 will be announced later in July. Club, intramural sports, fitness classes, and recreational athletics may be permitted if they can be conducted in accordance with state guidance and appropriate social distancing. Varsity athletes should consult with the athletics department concerning NCAA eligibility requirements.

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Will the gym be open?

Payne Whitney Gymnasium and other athletic facilities will be open with limits on capacity in order to preserve social distancing. Gyms in residential colleges will be closed until public health guidance permits us to open them.

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Which extra-curricular activities will be canceled?

Activities that cannot be conducted with appropriate social distancing, such as dramatic performances, undergraduate productions, singing groups, and some other musical groups will have to be re-imagined to take place online.

Most other extra-curricular activities will continue, with appropriate social distancing.

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Which large group events will be canceled or moved online?

Certain large group events, such as first-year orientation, first-year assembly and family weekend, will take place online.

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Life off campus

If I return to residence in New Haven, can I leave for any reason? If I have to leave for a family emergency, would I not be able to return?

Travel outside Connecticut will be discouraged for the duration of the pandemic. Undergraduates may travel only for emergencies or must seek approval from their residential college deans’ offices for travel that is essential for educational or personal reasons. Those returning from states with high prevalence of COVID-19 will be required to self-quarantine in accordance with state requirements.

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Can I go to stores and restaurants in New Haven?

Students may go to stores and restaurants in New Haven as long as they follow public health guidance currently in place, such as wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing.

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What guidance regarding public health must I follow?

All students who are living on campus or in the New Haven area, will be required to sign a community compact and are expected to comply with all social distancing, testing, and quarantine protocols.

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Can I engage in community service?

Community service will need to be restructured to minimize spread to the local community.

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Arts

Can I produce a theater, dance, comedy, musical, or other performance this fall?

In-person performances (indoors or out) are not permitted this semester, to address COVID transmission risks among audience members and production team members, but performances can be envisioned to take place online in many forms. Undergraduate Production (UP) Technical Directors are already working to advise and support student teams working on virtual projects. Students interested in exploring the options for virtual performance should contact any of the UP Technical Directors. You can view projects being planned for the fall, and browse opportunities to get involved on the Yale College Arts website.

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What will membership in the Yale College Ensembles (Yale Concert Band, Yale Jazz Initiative, Yale Precision Marching Band, Yale Glee Club, Yale Symphony Orchestra) be like this year?

The Yale College ensembles (Yale Concert Band, Yale Jazz Initiative, Yale Precision Marching Band, Yale Glee Club, Yale Symphony Orchestra) will remain vital, active spaces this coming fall, with a focus on maintaining and growing their communities, expanding and diversifying their repertoire, and on welcoming new members. In addition to other activities, the ensembles will make music together and share it with the Yale community. Modes of music making will be different this fall, relying primarily on virtual platforms, and the ensembles will make the most of opportunities to connect across distance and to celebrate together.

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Can I join or participate in an a capella group this semester?

The Singing Group Council (SGC) has cancelled Rush for fall 2020. Auditions will next take place in Fall 2021. Meanwhile, the member groups are committed to creating other opportunities for students to connect with singing groups at Yale, especially for first-year students. The SGC will work with member groups to support virtual concerts and Jams as well as social events for first-years to interact with the groups.

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Can I take music lessons this semester?

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only for-credit lessons will be offered Fall Semester of 2020. The ongoing nature of the pandemic as well as the safety concerns surrounding lessons and practice spaces have required the Yale School of Music to cancel the Non-Credit Lessons Program this fall semester. All for-credit lessons fall semester will take place online.

Practice rooms for students taking credit lessons will be available in the Adams Center for Musical Arts, on a need-based and limited basis. The risk mitigation measures being taken in the music buildings will significantly cut down the number of hours available in these rooms. All music students (graduate and undergraduate) are encouraged to practice in their own rooms whenever possible.

Practice rooms in the colleges are not available.

Undergraduate students taking for-credit lessons in piano may apply to their Head of College office for single-person use of pianos in music rooms, but not common spaces. Students wishing to apply for credit lessons must fill out an application for lessons.

Students will then be invited to upload an audition video on Canvas. More information about the Music Program at Yale can be found on the YSM website, as well as the Department of Music website.

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Are there opportunities for student-run music groups to make music and perform together?

Yes. All performance must be virtual this semester and there are resources available to help student music groups adapt to this mode. Yale College Arts is making opportunities to work with VirtualChoir available to all music making student organizations. The resulting videos will be published on the Yale College Arts website, on the Yale Arts Calendar, and will be available to groups to link to from their own websites and/or social media spaces. Please contact Daisy Abreu, Administrative Coordinator for the Arts (daisy.abreu@yale.edu), if you are a music organization leader interested in creating a virtual performance.

More information regarding virtual performance opportunities can be found on the Yale College Arts website.

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Will the Creative and Performing Arts awards be available to support student art making this fall?

Yes, Creative and Performing Arts Awards will be available this fall, with adaptations to fit the residential/remote mode. CPA funding is available to support solo projects or projects that are made using virtual collaborations. Any project funded by a fall 2020 CPA must make the final project available online, in order to be accessible to the residential/remote Yale College community. These virtual projects could take several forms and the Yale College Arts team is available to help students think about the possibilities. Details will be published on the Creative and Performing Arts website.

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I am a visual artist. How can I share my work with the entire Yale Community online?

The Yale Office of Career Strategy has partnered with Wix to provide a multi-year premium account for free to currently enrolled Yale students. Students interested in exhibiting their visual arts projects may use this resource to share their work with the Yale community and beyond. Check out the Yale BA Art 2020 Digital Thesis Archive for inspiration on how to use Wix as an exhibition space. Find more information regarding online exhibition resources on the Yale College Arts website.

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Can I access the Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) this semester?

In-person CCAM computer lab and studio use is not available for the fall 2020 semester, for reasons of public safety during COVID-19. Curricular use of the CCAM Virtual Computing Lab will be available to designated enrolled students beginning September 2, 2020. CCAM photo and filmmaking equipment will be checked out on term-long loans to students who need the equipment to complete coursework. More information about the CCAM Virtual Computing Lab and long-term loans through the Lending Lab can be found here. CCAM will offer student employment opportunities, involving remote assignments. More information about student employment opportunities at the CCAM can be found on the CCAM website.

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For more information

Where can I get more information? (Updated July 30, 2020)

For guidance from Yale College:

These FAQs will be updated regularly. For more information, please write to yale.college@yale.edu.

For guidance about study abroad:

https://studyabroad.yale.edu/prepare-go/study-abroad-covid-19-coronavirus

For guidance about financial aid:

https://finaid.yale.edu/fall-2020-ufa

For guidance about COVID-19:

Campus COVID Resource Line
203-432-6604 or 866-924-9253
Available seven days a week, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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