Novel Coronavirus Information

Our Latest Information

• Information for Staff and Faculty: Campus Access policy and protocols, as well as guidelines for remote working, resource pages, Fall 2020 FAQs and who to contact with questions.
• Testing and Health Protocols - Policies and practices representing our plans for students, faculty, staff, and visitors coming to our physical campus. We've also created a Testing Dashboard to provide current testing information.
• On-Campus Life - Fall 2020: Academic instruction for our undergraduate and graduate students will be almost entirely online for the fall semester with very few exceptions and very few students living on campus. Learn more about residential life this fall, dining, and our plans for testing and keeping you safe on campus.
• Undergraduate Programs - Fall 2020: All of our teaching and activities will be online for the Fall 2020 semester, with very few exceptions.
• Graduate Programs - Fall 2020 Update: After careful consideration and planning, we will move graduate and certificate programs online for the fall, with limited exceptions.
• Spring 2021: Stay up to date on our decisions for the spring.
• Test Optional for 2021-22 Academic Year: Simmons University will not require students applying for the 2021-22 academic year to submit standardized test scores.
• Federal CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
• Supporting Our Students (SOS) Fund: We are grateful that so many members of the Simmons community have expressed concern for our students and asked how they can help. In response, we have established the Supporting Our Students (SOS) Fund to help provide needed resources to our students.
• Stay Safe: Things you can do to keep safe.
• Previous Communications: See previous communications sent to our community.

Information for Staff and Faculty

Guidelines for Remote Working

All non-essential personnel at the University will continue to work remotely through the first semester of 2020. Essential personnel include certain employees required on-campus to deliver safety or service needs to students, or those who maintain certain recurring business continuity functions. Employees who are considered “essential” have been notified in advance. Please note that Simmons is not “closed.” We are open for business, and we are doing our work remotely.

Campus Access

With the expectation that most employees remain remote and that campus access remains limited, we understand there may be a need to visit campus. Learn more about the policies, protocols and acceptable visit criteria.

Support Resources

• Faculty Support for Online Transition
• Employee Resources for COVID-19 Transitions
• Technology Resources for Online Instruction

Questions

Employees should keep a close eye on their email and on the Simmons Internal Faculty & Staff website for more information. Please continue to reach out to [email protected] with any specific questions not answered in our FAQs. 

Fall 2020 FAQs: Faculty and Staff

Spring 2021

If we are able to do so safely — given the trajectory of the virus and public health protections at the time — we look forward to inviting students to campus this spring, although we do not know how many or how soon we will be able to do that.

Federal CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted by the coronavirus, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet.

Simmons University has signed and returned, to the Department of Education, the Certification and Agreement related to the CARES Act and will use no less than 50 percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid grants to eligible students.

Details on the amount received, the number of eligible students as well as the methodology for determining which students received grants can be found in our 30 Day Fund Report.

Supporting Our Students Fund

We are grateful that so many members of the Simmons community have expressed concern for our students and asked how they can help. In response, we have established the Supporting Our Students (SOS) Fund to help provide needed resources to our students. Gifts to the SOS Fund provide relief for alternative housing and transportation, mental health and medical needs, groceries and personal items, technology, and other accommodations to complete coursework.

Learn more about supporting our students.

Be Safe

In any instance of in-person interactions, keep in mind the safety measures the CDC offers – stay about 6 feet apart, be careful to cover your coughs and sneezes, resist shaking hands or touching your face, wear a mask when out in public, and wash your hands often and properly. Keep calm, wash your hands and stay home if you're sick.

For more information on what to do if you feel sick, or if you become aware that you or someone in your household may have been exposed to the virus or becomes symptomatic, check out our frequently asked questions.

Stay Tuned

We will continue to send updates as we have them and as the COVID-19 outbreak evolves; please keep a close eye on your email and on the Simmons web page.

Also, since March 18th Simmons has been sending staff and faculty daily information, updates, upcoming virtual events, where to find resources, and more via email. These emails will continue. If you have particular questions or concerns, please send them to [email protected] and we will get back to you with accurate directions, information, or answers.

Previous Communications

• July 14, 2020 - Update on Undergraduate Programs
• June 15, 2020 - Update on Graduate Programs
• May 8, 2020 - Planning for Fall
• April 15 - A communication was sent to students with details about the undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies.
• April 3, 2020 - Update for Students and Families
• March 17, 2020 - Latest Campus Closure Information for Students and Families
• March 13, 2020 - Residence Campus Closure Information
• March 13, 2020
• March 11, 2020
• March 5, 2020
• February 28, 2020
• February 5, 2020
• January 27, 2020