| by Laurie Patton
Even though we are in more of a steady rhythm now, we didn’t want to let a week go by without updating you on the progress we are making in determining how Middlebury will operate in the months ahead. Like every institution around the country, this week we have been scenario planning. Scenario planning is its own form of storytelling.
| by Karen Miller
I want to invite you to visit a new Middlebury website we’ve created to support those of you who have transitioned to temporary remote work. The site includes a variety of links and articles as well as free online training classes and workshops you might find helpful. We’ve also consolidated much of our Covid-related policy information into one area so you can easily find answers to your questions.
| by Carlos Vélez
Last Friday, Middlebury faculty voted to implement a Credit/No-Credit grading system at the undergraduate College for the current spring semester. This was done in recognition of the impact of the pandemic on our students and faculty. In consultation with the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Registrar, we have decided that the optional Credit/No-Credit grading will also apply to all students attending the Middlebury Schools Abroad as well as to Middlebury students participating in externally-sponsored programs. The Pass/D/Fail option in place will no longer be available.
| by Jeff Cason, Karen Miller, and Mark Peluso
It is understandable that you may be eager to get back to work on campus. All of us would like this to happen but for the sake of everyone’s health and safety, if you have been working from home, please continue to do so until you have permission to return. Human Resources will coordinate with supervisors to plan a transition back to campus, and supervisors will continue to communicate directly with staff.
| by Laurie Patton and David Provost
We write now with a small view into our financial future. Before we do, we thought it worth reminding you of our current fiscal state. In an earlier note we described how we are projecting a $13.0 million deficit for this year ending June 30, 2020, having been hit hard by the stock market downturn and a number of other factors. These include our obligation to refund unused room and board for undergraduates as well as fees from Study Abroad students, expected shortfalls in philanthropy, and lost revenue from auxiliary sources like the ski areas and bookstore as they needed to close early.
| by Suzanne Gurland
I hope this finds you staying home and staying safe. As the end of this extraordinary semester approaches, I write to share information regarding grading policy and practices, the calendar for the final Monday, and exam period.
Bread Loaf Writers' Conferences
| by Jennifer Grotz
Earlier today Middlebury College announced the cancellation of the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference and the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference, which were scheduled to take place simultaneously this June on the Bread Loaf campus in Ripton, Vermont.
| by Emily Bartels and Lyndon Dominique
We want to follow-up on the news that Middlebury sent out today, announcing our decision not to offer face-to-face programming this summer at the Bread Loaf campuses. We, of course, will all feel the loss of community this summer—of that glorious coming together that inspires so much creativity and understanding.
| by Jeff Cason, Sujata Moorti, and Suzanne Gurland
We write to update you on the status of the College’s grading policy for this semester. This morning, the faculty voted in favor of an Opt-In Credit/No-Credit, course-by-course system. For spring 2020 only, you will have the option to take as many of your current courses as you wish on a Credit/No-Credit basis. If you don’t choose Credit/No-Credit for a particular course, that course will remain letter-graded. You have until May 8 to invoke Credit/No-Credit for any of your courses, using an electronic form provided by the Registrar’s Office. You will have a window of time from May 9 to May 19 in which you may revoke any Credit/No-Credit decisions. There will be a notation on the spring 2020 section of all transcripts conveying to outside audiences that a “Credit” should be interpreted as a reasonable response to these extraordinary circumstances, and not as indicating diminished rigor.
