UA expresses disappointment in MIT’s Fall 2020 decision
The statement writes that the Institute’s fall decision does not match the contents of community feedback in charrettes, surveys, and the Team 2020 website, which “left many with a broad sense of what the fall would like.”
Research ramp-up expands to non-laboratory facilities
The Research Ramp-Up Thunder Committee, chaired by MIT Libraries Director Chris Bourg, was formed June 17 to plan the return to non-laboratory on-campus research activities in the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Sloan School of Management; School of Architecture and Planning; MIT Libraries; and MIT Museum.
MIT Medical reopens for in-person visits
Some appointments will be “hybrid,” with a meeting “over video or telephone, followed by a briefer in-person exam and any necessary lab work.”
MIT, Harvard sue U.S. DHS, ICE over modified international student visa guidelines
The lawsuit states that “ICE’s action leaves hundreds of thousands of international students with no educational options within the United States.”
Reif sends email about fall decisions, including tuition information
In addition, MIT is “adjusting” the aid budget “to meet families’ increased financial needs. Revised financial aid awards will be made available “likely by mid-August,” according to an FAQ on MIT’s COVID-19 site.
MIT invites only seniors back to campus for Fall 2020
There will be a process for non-seniors to “request special consideration for housing” on a case-by-case basis through the Student Housing Assistance Review Process.
Fall pre-registration open for continuing students July 20 to Aug. 14
Callahan wrote that the deadline for students to select preferences for CI-H and CI-HW subjects will be July 31, and the deadline to complete fall pre-registration will be Aug. 14.
Results of remote learning and teaching surveys released
32% of student respondents “strongly” agreed that they would “rather take a semester off than try to do it via remote learning.” An additional 21% of respondents “somewhat” agreed with this statement.
2021 Class Council petitions for access to campus for all seniors
The petition adds that senior year is “the final opportunity for students to find closure in the relationships they’ve built throughout their time at MIT” and “an important time to foster class unity.”
UA creates Committee on COVID-19 to advise MIT administration amid pandemic
The committee has gathered undergraduate feedback through a survey released June 21 on grading policy, academics, MIT administrators’ decision-making timeline, residential life, and international student concerns for the upcoming school year.
MIT Campus Police Association announces vote of no confidence in MIT Police Chief John DiFava
The MCPA’s announcement, emailed to The Tech, cited “outdated policies and procedures, poor morale throughout the department, favoritism in personnel decision-making, and a culture that does not support the officers,” as well as the MIT Police Department’s lack of independent review for over two decades.
UA holds grading policy forum
Danheiser wrote that APART is “seeking input from both students and instructors” about grading policies for the fall semester and that a decision will be made by “mid-July.”
MIT commits to developing and implementing Institute-wide plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion
The plan will be developed with input from “across the community,” including Black Students’ Union (BSU) and Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) representatives.
Graduate students write letter to Trump in support of OPT and international students
The letter urged Trump to “maintain the OPT program and the STEM OPT extension in their entirety” citing that international students contributed nearly $45 billion and over 450,000 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2018-19 academic year.
Outside Engagements Survey closed amid controversy
The survey contained six questions each asking students to choose between two hypothetical donor engagements based on the donation amount, “MIT’s recognition of the donor,” the “donor’s intended use for the money,” and the donor’s controversial activities, criminal history, and conviction history.
International student remote appointment guidelines released
In addition to good academic standing, secure funding, and the permission of the student's supervisor, the eligibility criteria require that “any continuing student must have returned to their home country prior to May 21, 2020.”
MIT transitions to Canvas from Stellar and Learning Modules
“A modern LMS allows instructors and students to engage in ways that are difficult, or impossible, in Stellar,” Rajagopal wrote, citing examples such as embedding videos, accessing course materials on phones and tablets, syncing with calendars, grading assignments within the LMS, and student content sharing and collaboration.
Heads of house issue memorandum against 100% undergraduate return in fall
The memorandum wrote that the 100% undergraduate return option “might create a false sense of security” and “normalcy,” increasing the likelihood of noncompliance with physical distancing rules.
MIT ends negotiations with Elsevier
MIT has “perpetual access” to most pre-2020 Elsevier articles, Bourg and Levy wrote. Additionally, “access to e-books, book series, handbooks, reference works, and databases published by Elsevier is not affected.”
Team 2020 releases undergraduate Student Preference Survey results
The first part of the survey asked students to consider an academic scenario involving a mostly-remote curriculum with some in-person elements for lab classes, project classes, and UROPs.