July 8, 2020
Dear Students,
I hope you are staying safe, finding ways to enjoy summer and to do some things that bring you joy. As you might imagine, this has been a busier than usual summer in Claremont as we plan for a new academic year. With respect to that planning, today President Tiedens announced the decision to conduct Scripps courses online this fall because of intensifying public health concerns across Los Angeles County, California and many other communities across the country.
I know lots of you were hoping to return to campus in the fall and for you this is disappointing news. It certainly isn’t where we thought we would be. However, given the public health crisis, the decision to be non-residential in the fall is warranted.
Although Scripps residential facilities will be closed, many of the services and supports that you have experienced while on campus will continue to be available to you while enrolled remotely.
Student Support
Academic Resources and Services: Scripps Tutoring Program will be available throughout the fall. Students may request tutors through the Office of Academic Resources and Services ([email protected]), which also provides support for students needing academic accommodations due to a documented disability. Support for students who are the first in their family to attend college or would be the first in their family to graduate from college will be provided by Scripps First Generation Program. Questions regarding FirstGen@Scripps may also be directed to [email protected].
Student Wellness: Students need not be on campus to access services offered by the Monsour Counseling and Psychological Center (Monsour). However, due to California mental health licensing laws, Monosur can only offer ongoing teletherapy/telephone appointments (individual or group) to students living in California. Monsour will serve out of state students via teletherapy/telephone for a one-time consultation, Rapid Access Initial Assessment, or a crisis session. Additionally, the center will work individually with out-of-state students to provide locally based referrals for ongoing care. To access services at MCAPS, please call 909-621-8202. For after-hours crisis services, the voicemail message will prompt you to press “1” to be connected to an on-call therapist.
The Claremont Colleges are offering (at no cost to the student) an additional telehealth option for students seeking mental health counseling or medical care. To access, Scripps students should visit the Campus.Health website or visit the Apple or Android stores to download the free TimelyMD app. You will need to create a profile and, at checkout, enter the customized coupon code (SCRIPPS2020).
The College is continuing its Off Campus Referral Program to further provide access to mental health resources. Beginning in the fall, there will be no cap on the number of counseling sessions for students served by this program, which will now also provide qualifying students with financial assistance to cover fees for out of state providers. The program will provide assistance to any Scripps student needing help locating a counselor in their area. Many counselors are providing online and remote therapy options during the pandemic.
Virtual and interactive wellness programming will be available from the Tiernan Field House. Stay tuned for more details.
Food and Housing: For need-based aid recipients, the cost of attendance for financial aid will still include an allowance for food expenses equal to the 16-meal plan charge of $4,164. Your financial aid award is based upon that allowance. Financial aid packages will not automatically include an allowance for room since many students will live at home. However, students who do not have housing options for the fall or will be in a situation that makes remote learning extremely difficult may apply for rent assistance for the fall term. Assistance for approved students will be provided in the financial aid package and should not exceed the budgeted room amount, which is $4979 for the semester. Requests for this assistance should be directed to your Primary Contact Dean.
Tech Support: Enrolled Scripps students who need to borrow a laptop or are facing other challenges with adequate technology to engage in remote courses should contact their Primary Contact Dean. The College has a number of loaner laptops and may be able to assist with internet access or other items.
Emergency Funds: Scripps Student Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to students needing funds quickly due to unforeseen circumstances. Funds provided are typically grants which do not require repayment. Grants usually do not exceed $300 and cover emergency travel due to illness or death of a family member, books and other academic supplies, repair or replacement of essential personal items not covered by insurance, and medical or dental expenses. Grants may not circumvent or conflict with the federally mandated financial aid guidelines and funding is not available for tuition, fees or housing. To apply for emergency funding, students should contact their Primary Contact Dean.
International Students
On July 6, the Student and Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) announced that it would be issuing a Final Temporary Rule governing F-1 visa students for the fall 2020 semester. The new rule will be different than the temporary exemption regarding online classes that SEVP issued in the spring. We are exploring ways to support our international students as we review the entire set of regulations and determine what they will require of the College in terms of compliance. We will keep the community apprised as developments occur. Assistant Dean Deb Gisvold ([email protected]) is the Primary Contact Dean for new and returning international students. Please let her know if there is any immediate assistance the College might be able to provide.
Student Athletes
CMS Athletics has made the decision to not participate in sports determined to be high-risk by public health officials. High risk sports include basketball, football, soccer, water polo and volleyball. We will continue to evaluate the opportunity to participate in SCIAC only schedules for fall and winter low-risk sports (Cross Country, Golf, Swimming & Diving, and Tennis). Like all other students, athletes will not be permitted to live on campus regardless of whether their team is competing and practicing.
Students Residing in non-Scripps Housing
Some students may have been planning to live in or near Claremont regardless of whether in person classes would be offered in the fall. This is a personal decision for students and their families. Please note that students living off campus will not have physical access to campus. Scripps will not be responsible for providing food or any medical services/medical monitoring beyond those provided by SHS to an off-campus Claremont College student who tests positive for the coronavirus. The College will not provide isolation spaces for students testing positive for the virus and those students will be expected to quarantine in place or find suitable isolation space. These limitations apply to any Scripps student choosing to live near campus during the fall term for whatever reason, including participation in CMS Athletics.
Community at Scripps
We are confident in the College’s ability to continue to provide a Scripps experience that is academically excellent and centered in community. With the help of the Student Advisory Committee and your feedback we are focused on how best to maintain and strengthen our community bonds in a virtual environment, as well as how best to support students via virtual platforms across our offerings, including SCORE, Student Clorgs, the Laspa Center for Leadership, and the Career Resources and Planning.
We hope you will continue your Scripps education this fall! Let us know your plans. The deadline to notify the College of your intentions is 5 p.m. PST on Friday, July 31. Please do so by completing this survey.
More Questions?
Please review the FAQ for answers to questions, many of them posed during our prior student listening sessions. The FAQ covers New Student Programs and Orientation, course registration, enrollment questions and much more. In addition, feel free to join us for a fourth student listening session on July 15 at 5:00pm Pacific Time. We will send the Zoom invitation soon.
Sincerely,
Dean Charlotte