- I recently sent a message to the Harvard community outlining the steps we're taking
on campus to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, more commonly referred to simply
as coronavirus.
Harvard remains open and operations will continue with appropriate measures to protect the health
of the community, two of which I announced in my message.
We've begun transitioning to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate classes and
aim to complete our work by Monday, March 23rd, the first day of classes scheduled following
spring recess.
We're also asking students not to return to campus following spring recess.
All graduate students will transition to remote work wherever possible and on-campus activities
and interactions will be severely limited for any student who needs to remain on campus.
These extraordinary actions are intended to minimize the need for larger group gatherings
and to reduce prolonged time spent in proximity.
They are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials on how to limit
the spread of coronavirus.
None of us wanted to see the spring semester altered so significantly, but our top priority
must be ensuring one and another's health and safety.
We are taking these measures to ensure the safety of our students to be sure, but, more
than that, we also must be concerned about the safety of everyone who works at Harvard.
It's the people who work in our dining halls, those who work in our dormitories, our faculty
and our staff more broadly.
All of these individuals are at risk for this virus and so by limiting the presence of our
students on our campus, we seek to slow down the potential threat that's posed by this
disease.
Also, by limiting the possible exposure of our students, we seek to protect their families
as well.
We must all work together, all be considerate of each other as we try to limit the spread
of this disease.
Students, I know it will be challenging to be away from friends and colleagues, from
familiar spaces that have become your home.
I thank you for understanding that being away from campus is, indeed, a selfless act of
caring for our community and especially for those among us who may be at increased risk.
To my faculty colleagues, I know the prospect of changing course mid-stream is daunting.
I appreciate your willingness to adopt approaches and tools, and teaching methods,
that may be unfamiliar to you and
I want you to know that you have the full support of the university as you undertake
what I suspect will be a remarkable shift in the way you teach.
To our staff, I know that, even on our best days, the lion's share of support for our teaching
and our scholarship falls on your shoulders.
Now we rely upon you to take on additional responsibilities with the same creativity
and flexibility and judgment that you always apply in service to our mission, thank you.
As your president and colleague, but also as a husband and father and a grandfather, I find myself
deeply grateful for the work of our community, especially now.
It's an honor to have colleagues from across the university who are working tirelessly
through their scholarship to address
every aspect of the coronavirus in the hope that we might check its spread and impact.
It's an honor to have colleagues from across the university who are using the latest information
available to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of members of all of our community.
It's an honor to have colleagues who are counseling care and generosity,
who are urging understanding and respect, and who are championing physical and mental
health.
So much of what's happening at Harvard right now is largely invisible to the wider world
and it's true value will only become clear to us in the rear-view mirror.
For now I'm confident that we're doing everything within our power to address the challenges
posed by the coronavirus.
Our efforts will take understanding on the part of all.
It will take patience on the part of us all.
And I hope it will help to bring us all together as a community.
As I said in my earlier message, I'm proud
to be a member of a place where people put greater good above their own self-interest.
Thank you again for your patience and your resilience.
And for doing all you do to make Harvard a special place.
Thank you.