The health and wellbeing of our community remains the single most important driver in our decision-making. With this as our foundation, based on the current public health conditions, we are changing our plans for the fall semester and are moving exclusively to remote learning.
The only exception may be for new international students who are required to have some in-person classes to satisfy their F-1 visa requirements. We will be providing off-campus housing or assisting international students with finding off-campus housing.
When the decision to return to in-person classes was announced in late June, cases in Maryland and throughout much of the country were declining. Restrictions on gatherings, restaurants, and activities were relaxed as Maryland moved into Phase II; testing was growing more widespread, with results available in 36–48 hours; and travel restrictions into and out of the state had been lifted. While cases in Maryland and nationally were being reported across people of all ages, the percentage of cases in people aged 20–30 was relatively low. The curve of the pandemic seemed to be moving in a hopeful direction.
Conditions have now changed. In the past seven days the state of Maryland has announced restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings, travel restrictions into Maryland from several states have been imposed, and COVID-19 test results are now taking 5–7 days—or longer. We are a small, tight knit community, and the foundation of our health and wellness plan has always been the availability of rapid and regular testing. Given that such testing is no longer readily available in Maryland, we currently do not have confidence that we can maintain the systematic testing protocol necessary to bring our students back to campus.
The pandemic has proven dynamic and fluid, changing in ways that pose additional challenges to college communities. People under the age of 40 now account for more than 55 percent of new cases in Maryland, and infection rates for people under the age of 35 are 93 percent higher than people age 35 and older.
As we examined our plans for the return to in-person classes in the context of the evolving public health conditions, we determined that while this was an extraordinarily difficult choice, it is the right one for now.
As we prepare to deliver our unique program of study to students online, we have consulted with a number of agencies, organizations and associations including: Centers for Disease Control, Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Governor’s Office, Maryland Independent College and University Association, American College Health Association, and Johns Hopkins University.
No, the fall academic calendar remains the same. Convocation will be held virtually on Wednesday, August 26 and classes will begin with Seminar on Thursday, August 27.
We will continue to monitor the latest information on COVID-19 and will remain in close contact with local health officials. Provided the public health situation allows, we plan to welcome students back to campus in January 2021.
On Wednesday, August 5, a survey will be sent to undergraduate students to obtain details about your intentions for fall. Please take the time to submit your responses to this survey no later than Tuesday, August 11. Graduate students will be contacted by the Office of the Graduate Institute.
Both Santa Fe and Annapolis will offer January Freshmen (JF) classes this year, which allow students to begin their first semester in January. January Freshmen complete their second semester in the summer, and then experience a normal fall/winter academic year after that. This program has run in Santa Fe for many years, and was run in Annapolis in the past, and will work well for students who want to defer their studies for a full semester; do note, however, that COVID-19 is still likely to be with us alongside strict health and safety policies.
We are proud to offer a remote fall semester that is more immersive and community-based than just about any other college in the country. Our classes are small with 10–20 students, and every class will remain a live discussion where all students participate by speaking directly to each other and the tutors. There are no pre-recorded classes or passive lectures. Orientation and social events are being organized remotely by the college so that students can get to know one another.
For some students who have difficulty in an online learning environment, we recommend deferring the start of classes to January 2021. For students who have defined plans (such as a job, internship, or volunteer role) for a gap semester or year, you may defer the start of classes to January 2021 or Fall 2021. Keep in mind that by deferring to January 2021, you will complete your first year at St. John’s in early August, enabling you to start your sophomore year on time in late August 2021.
For most students without defined plans for a gap semester or year, we recommend sticking with your current plans and enrolling in remote classes at St. John’s. This will keep you on track for an on-time graduation in four years. St. John’s has also kept tuition frozen this year at the $35,000 we lowered it to in 2018. With limited alternative options during the pandemic and the likelihood that in-person programming at other places will eventually revert to online programming, the quality and value of classes you will experience this fall with St. John’s are likely your best use of time in this very unusual moment. We are in this together, and you’ll find a community of students excited for great books and ideas who are online for the fall and eager to reconvene in person in the spring.
New students who have decided to defer or withdraw should contact your Admissions Counselor by August 10. We can shift your acceptance and deposit to the January 2021 or Fall 2021 terms, and we will refund any other payments made for the Fall 2020 semester.
Returning undergraduate students who have decided to defer or withdraw will need to notify the Registrar and the Assistant Dean by August 10. Once we receive notification from the Registrar of the withdrawal we will refund any amounts due. Refunds will be issued via the Premier Pay Student Refund Portal.
The pandemic has undoubtedly brought on extensive new costs for the college, as well as extensive revenue losses. This reality is true across the higher education sector, and St. John’s College is not immune from this financial upheaval. However, in the midst of so much uncertainty, the college is in a stronger position than most small colleges thanks to the measures taken over the last four years, including the reality that we have raised more than $225 million toward our $300 million fundraising goal. Because of our commitment to working toward a balanced budget, combined with the generous outpouring of support for our Freeing Minds campaign, St. John’s is confronting this crisis from a position of greater strength, with firmer financial ground beneath us and a stronger support system in place for students. Our continued success depends on our wider community’s continued support.
The college intends to start the fall semester on schedule with only online options (with the exception of some in-person classes for freshmen international students who are on campus). We will continue to conduct the Program of Instruction online with rigor and integrity. Our faculty, academic leadership, and support staff have worked steadily, since we went online in the spring, to adapt scheduling, curricula, and classroom management to allow for the best possible online experience. We learned much from the student and faculty spring technology surveys, and we are prepared to work closely with students to ensure that they have clear, satisfactory technology expectations and assistance with meeting those expectations.
COVID-19 requires that we make multiple adaptations to the conduct of our educational Program—both for on-campus students and now for all fully online students. We have an unwavering commitment to offer the Program of Instruction to all of our continuing and incoming students while maintaining the integrity, robustness, and delight of this education. We believe the substance of the Program can be offered well—and better than most other forms of education—online or in-person with appropriate protocols. Our small, discussion-driven classes and relative logistical and technical simplicity (“a book, a table, and a blackboard,” approximated in the online environment) are advantages in this environment.
Classes will be conducted on Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Classes will meet according to the traditional schedule. The current location of students will be taken into account in assigning classes. Tutors have been considering the experience of the spring and developing best practices and etiquette to guide participation in online classes and elevate the level of discussion.
Tutors have also been working to make better use of technology for online classes. For example, boardwork, especially mathematical and geometrical demonstrations, will be conducted on a shared whiteboard, separate from Zoom or Teams, and accessible to class members. New technology will be used for playing music in music tutorials and for viewing and marking musical notation. Tutors and laboratory assistants have made new videos of practica for use in classes.
New student orientation will occur virtually following Convocation on Wednesday, August 26. New parent orientation programming will continue online. Revised schedules for both programs will be sent in the coming weeks.
In-person new student and new parent orientation programs will occur when on-campus classes resume.
Yes, subject to reasonable modifications should changing conditions warrant them. All academic policies will undergo increased periodic review, based on our experience of the online environment. The assistant dean will be available to address concerns and questions in further detail, depending on your circumstances.
There are no plans for pass/fail options this fall. Students are, as always, encouraged to speak with their tutors or with the assistant dean about unique challenges that they face in the course of the semester which may affect their work.
Yes, as the student handbook states: “Attendance in all classes is a central part of a St. John’s education... Because classes at St. John’s ideally involve all students in the class making contributions to the learning of the whole, attendance is both a constituent part of collaborative learning, as well as a mark of respect for other students and tutors.” In addition, in the online environment this fall students will be required to be visually present during class. Students concerned about sustaining their attendance in class and those who have concerns about having appropriate technology to maintain a visual presence should contact the assistant dean.
PDFs of manuals will be made easily accessible online to all students. Printed copies of manuals will be sent ‘snail mail’ to all students residing in the United States. Students residing abroad are encouraged to have manual PDFs printed and bound close to home (those concerned with the cost of this should contact the assistant dean). The bookstore will take and fulfill mail orders with a low, fixed rate for shipping. The library will continue to find and provide a wide variety of digital resources of primary texts. Students are encouraged, whenever possible, to read from printed matter as, for most persons, this mode permits one to retain more of what one reads, and one’s text is separate from the screen used for class meetings.
Students should have a computer with a video camera and an internet service which permit them to stream video by Zoom or Teams. Students are also strongly encouraged to obtain an inexpensive tablet and a stylus for doing board work during tutorials and laboratories (there is a fund available for those who need support purchasing these devices: contact the assistant dean). Details regarding the technical specifications for these items will be sent to all students later this week. Technical specifications are available online as a PDF document.
Students who do not have a device or internet access sufficient for participating in classes on Zoom or Teams should contact Assistant Dean Nathan Dugan (nathan.dugan(at)sjc.edu). The college offers financial assistance to students with technological needs from the CARES Act, Mellon Foundation, and other emergency funds.
Ongoing and sustained conversations between tutors and students are an integral part of a St. John’s education. Students and tutors will meet for paper conferences, orals, and other more common but less formal conversations online, and students should request meetings to speak with tutors just as they would in person. Students happening to live in Annapolis may meet with tutors in-person, with the tutor’s consent, wearing masks and socially distanced. In-person meetings should be outdoors when possible.
A full range of academic support will be available to students virtually. Student assistants will schedule study groups, translation groups, workshops on specific topics, and general communal work sessions, in addition to being available for one-on-one virtual meetings and assistance. Many of the assistants have been working online through the summer and are developing and refining how they deliver assistance virtually.
In addition, there will be one Study Assistant who will be planning online study sessions. For those who would like support with writing or speaking in English, we will have a specialist in English for native speakers of other languages.
New international students can enroll online for the Fall 2020 semester from outside the United States. They do not need to have an F-1 visa or valid I-20/SEVIS record to do so.
New international students who are transferring their SEVIS records from a U.S. high school, college or university and are already in the United States can remain in the United States for the Fall 2020 semester.
New international students who are traveling to the United States are required to live in Annapolis and will be enrolled in at least one in-person class, as required to maintain your F-1 visa. For more information, contact Amanda Stevens (amanda.stevens(at)sjc.edu).
Continuing international students on F-1 status who were enrolled at St. John’s for the Spring 2020 semester and will be enrolling for Fall 2020 will continue to have active SEVIS records/F-1 status and can remain in the United States if they wish. In order to remain in active status, however, you must continue to enroll for the Fall 2020 semester.
Continuing international students who were enrolled at St. John’s for the Spring 2020 semester and will be enrolling for Fall 2020 will continue to have active SEVIS records/F-1 status and can choose to pursue their studies from within the United States or abroad.
Students considering traveling back to the United States should be mindful of current travel restrictions and the fact that the campus will be closed for the Fall 2020 semester. They are encouraged to consult with Mason Davenport (mason.davenport(at)sjc.edu) or Amanda Stevens (amanda.stevens(at)sjc.edu) prior to travel.
As always, continuing F-1 international students traveling to the United States are expected to carry their passport (valid for at least 6 months from the time of entry), their valid F-1 visa (except Canadian citizens) and a valid I-20 with a travel signature that is less than a year old. For further questions or information, contact the Registrar's office (annapolis.registrar(at)sjc.edu).
We understand what a difficult position our international students are in and will do the best we can to meet international student needs. Once we know where all of our international students are located, we will assess both need and capacity in determining what class times we can offer.
The college will work to meet the F-1 visa requirements for new international students who are in Annapolis. Please contact Amanda Stevens (amanda.stevens(at)sjc.edu) to learn more.
We will allow for our international students to arrive in Annapolis on or after August 22. Students should contact Amanda Stevens (amanda.stevens(at)sjc.edu) to coordinate travel and arrival plans.
Due to the shift to online classes for the fall semester, we will not be hosting an in-person orientation/registration or move-in. Our incoming class will be required to participate in a virtual orientation which begins on August 24.
The college urges our international students to take all safety precautions possible before arriving in Annapolis in order to keep exposure rates low in our community; this includes wearing masks, social distancing, and quarantining per Maryland regulations before arriving in Annapolis.
All students traveling to Annapolis from out of state or out of the country will be required to abide by quarantine regulations dictated by the state of Maryland as they stand upon the date of their arrival.
International students who will remain outside of the United States for the entire Fall 2020 semester are not required to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan. International students who will be in the United States for any part of the Fall 2020 semester are required to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan.
The fall semester dates remain the same, with classes starting with the Meno seminar for new Graduate Institute students on Thursday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. and classes beginning for all Graduate Institute students on Monday, August 31.
We will continue to monitor the latest information on COVID-19 and will remain in close contact with local health officials. Depending on what the public health situation allows, we plan to welcome students back to campus in Spring 2021. In addition to welcoming students back to campus if possible, the Graduate Institute intends to continue offering classes online through the end of the academic year 2021.
Orientation for new students will occur virtually. There will be an online orientation seminar and conversation with the associate dean on Thursday, August 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Schedules will be released closer to the start of the academic semester. Schedules will only be shared with students who have completed the registration checklist and have paid fall tuition.
To see which books you will need for your seminar and tutorial classes, please consult the Graduate Institute Reading Lists on the college website.
Information about books needed for your preceptorial will be sent by the Graduate Institute when your class plan has been set. The Greenfield Library has made many of the books, manuals, and documents needed by students enrolled in the Graduate Institute available electronically via the Graduate Institute dropdown menu to the right at the top of the page at the following link: Electronic text resources.
Books for all Graduate Institute classes may be ordered for delivery by mail from the bookstore with a low, fixed rate for shipping. Electronic copies of manuals will be made available to all students who need them, and hard copies of manuals will be mailed to students living in the United States.
A full range of academic support will be available to students virtually. Student assistants for Math, Greek, and Writing will be available to meet with students online both during scheduled drop-in “office hours” and by appointment. Information about “office hours” and how to contact the assistants will be made available closer to the beginning of the term.
If you want to make changes in your classes, or move to part-time enrollment, please contact the Graduate Institute. Although we may not be able to accommodate every request, we will work with you to make adjustments and also ask that you remain flexible as we attempt to meet the needs of each student to progress through degree requirements.
Yes, it should generally be possible to defer enrollment in the Graduate Institute until the spring semester. You should be aware that the segments and preceptorials offered in the spring semester will not be the same as those offered in the fall, so choosing to defer could have a broader impact on your enrollment plan for obtaining the degree. If you are interested in deferring and discussing your plan, please contact the Graduate Institute.
The Graduate Institute and Graduate Student Council will develop opportunities for Graduate Institutes students to interact with one another, their tutors, and the larger St. John’s community through the fall. In addition there will be other programming, including a program of college-wide lectures.
Students should have a computer with a video camera and an internet service which permit them to stream video by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Students may also need to obtain an inexpensive tablet and a stylus for doing board work during tutorials or preceptorials. Please consult the Graduate Institute Office for additional information. Technical specifications are available online as a PDF document.
Students who do not have a device or internet access sufficient for participating in classes on Zoom or Teams should contact Associate Dean Emily Langston (emily.langston(at)sjc.edu). The college offers financial assistance to students with technological needs from the CARES Act, Mellon Foundation, and other emergency funds.
Ongoing and sustained conversations between tutors and students are an integral part of a St. John’s education. Students and tutors will meet for paper conferences, orals, and other more common but less formal conversations online, and students should request meetings to speak with tutors just as they would in person. Students happening to live in Annapolis may meet with tutors in-person, with the tutor’s consent, wearing masks and socially distanced. In-person meetings should be outdoors when possible.
New Graduate Institute students should contact Associate Director of Graduate Admissions Ryan Johnson (ryan.johnson(at)sjc.edu). Both new and returning students are invited to contact Associate Director Brandon Wasicsko (brandon.wasicsko(at)sjc.edu) or Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Emily Langston (emily.langston(at)sjc.edu) .
We are not further discounting tuition as a result of the pandemic. The money you pay toward tuition funds the salaries of our tutors and allows us to keep classes small. In these unusual times, classes might even be smaller than usual (between 10–20 students). Unlike colleges creating pre-recorded lectures, St. John’s is committed to live, discussion-based classes led by tutors where all students participate. We are confident that our remote classes are among the best available at any college.
St. John’s is keeping tuition frozen this year at $35,000. The college lowered tuition to $35,000 in 2018, and despite average increases of 3 percent or more at most colleges, St. John’s hasn’t raised tuition since.
Because on-campus housing will not be available for students this semester, the cost of room and board will be removed from your fee statement (except for a small number of first-year international students living off-campus). We are also removing the Health Center fee.
If you are receiving need-based financial aid, your award was based on the total cost of attendance for the semester, which originally included tuition, fees, and room and board. As a result of removing room and board from the equation, your financial aid needs to be recalculated. The recalculation will be based on a new total cost of attendance that includes tuition, fees, and an off-campus living allowance. The allowance for students who are in rental housing in Annapolis or Santa Fe will be $5,000. The allowance for students who are living at home will be $2,000. You will not see the allowance on your fee statement because it is credited to your financial aid award according to the individual financial circumstances of each student.
New fee statements and financial aid awards will be released by August 10. For students who have already paid the fee statement or started a payment plan, your account will be credited for any money contributed to room and board. If you have any questions or financial difficulties after reviewing your new fee statement or financial aid award, please contact Financial Aid at annapolis.financialaid(at)sjc.edu.
While the college is not assessing health fees for the Fall 2020 semester, some telehealth services will be available. Because the regulations governing the provision of medical, mental health, and psychiatric services varies by state, we may not be able to provide services to all students.
Bills will be updated the week of August 10 for actual fall charges. Additional adjustments may be made to financial aid if your financial aid was covering room and board. Once your final statement is ready, the Student Accounts Office will work with you to cancel your fall payment plans (if applicable), repay your fall overpayments, or apply your overpayments to the spring semester. Please contact studentaccounts(at)sjc.edu for more information.
Returning students who have decided to withdraw or defer will need to notify the Assistant Dean and Registrar first. Once we receive notification from the Registrar of the withdrawal we will refund any amounts due. All other student refunds will be processed within the first 14 days of school starting; undergraduate classes start on August 27; returning Graduate Institute students will hold their first classes on August 27. Refunds will be issued via the Premier Pay Student Refund Portal.
*International students who are unable to enroll in the Premier Pay Student Refund portal will be able to receive refunds to international accounts via wire. The Business Office will reach out to those students specifically to work with them to gather all required information. Please note: These students will need to provide wire instructions directly from their bank.
By August 14, all final payments are due; if you need to arrange for a payment plan, it must also be arranged by August 14. No late fees will be assessed based on prior deadlines, due to the challenges created by the pandemic.
There are some jobs that can be done remotely and some that can’t, which means there are far fewer work-study jobs available than there were in the past. Contact your supervisor to find out if your position is still needed. For those seeking new jobs, the college is still exploring what new jobs might be needed.
New students should contact the Admissions Office (admissions(at)sjc.edu) to appeal your financial aid package and determine your potential eligibility for additional funding.
Financial aid is recalculated every year based on your financial circumstances. As long as there are no changes to your financial circumstances, you can expect a similar financial aid award in a future year.
Contact the Assistant Dean’s office at annapolisassistantdean(at)sjc.edu and outline the particulars of your situation. Someone from the office will get back in touch with you to let you know what your options might be and to provide support and guidance for finding a place off campus.
Please contact Frances Van Ness (frances.vanness(at)sjc.edu) and let her know what day and approximate time you’ll be arriving on campus. She will send you a confirmation email and will alert Public Safety about your plans. Once you arrive on campus, please go to the Public Safety office and one of the officers will let you into the storage room.
Perry Moving Company, the company that packed your belongings, will also ship them to you, To arrange this, please email Tracie Cohee (tcohee(at)perrymoving.com).
Yes. Resident Advisors will be engaging students in a variety of virtual, community building activities and discussions from one-on-one check-ins and midnight Karaoke to “SJC Nomenclature and Traditions” sessions and guidance about which office to contact for answers to what questions for our newest members of the Polity.
The Assistant Dean’s Office is developing virtual engagement activities to help students stay connected to each other, to tutors, and to the community. Students will have access to a virtual engagement calendar to help connect and develop community. Activities will also include virtual athletic activities and between campus competitions.
The Assistant Dean’s Office will be working closely with the Delegate Council to support and fund campus clubs in their online activities.
Fine Arts programming will be offered throughout the fall, with virtual field trips, art discussions, art challenges, virtual galleries, and group art events.
Yes! The Resident Advisors (RAs) will still be available to you to answer any questions you might have for them. The RAs will work with the students who were previously assigned to live on the floor/in the residence hall to which they were assigned as well. Every RA is an upperclassman who has experienced life at SJC and will go through Residence Life training so to be equipped to help and assist students who would like to use them as a resource.
The RAs will be able to give the same support to their assigned residents that they would in person. The RAs will be holding weekly “office hours” with an open Zoom meeting which any of their residents will be able to attend if they need or want to talk to their RA. These conversations can serve many purposes: share ideas, ask questions, and so on. Students will also be able to set up individual meetings as well if they wish to speak with their RAs about something more personal.
The RAs also are very informed about all of the resources that St. John’s has to offer its students. RAs will be a great source to relay contact information for other resources on campus, such as if a student needs to reach Public Safety or Counseling Services. If any further information is needed, please contact Jen Cline, coordinator of student services (jmcline(at)sjc.edu).
The Residence Life staff has collected several ideas for possible activities the RAs will be able to hold virtually. Every RA will hold gatherings over Zoom or Teams so their residents will be able to meet each other and start fostering a community with one another that is specific to their dormitory or floor. Some specific examples of these activities include:
Floor meetings—this is time for students to get to know those with whom they would have shared living spaces
Virtual trivia nights (including prizes for the winners!)
Virtual movie nights and discussions to follow
Mailed items to participate in activities (snacks for movies, personalized door decorations, etc.)
Creating a virtual space (online bulletin board) for residents to collaborate and interact with one another while learning about each other’s hobbies and preferences
The RAs are looking forward to getting to know their residents on an individual and personal basis. Much of their programming will center around these types of relationships—both between the RAs and their residents, and the residents with each other. These programs/activities will be spread throughout the semester in order to continue the fostered relationships and community that a dormitory provides.
Yes, the Student Life team will be coordinating weekly, biweekly, and monthly virtual activities, and also hopes to collaborate with and support club activities. Here are some examples of what we endeavor to offer this fall:
Cross campus game shows with program trivia and prizes
Crafting challenges, art classes, and a virtual art gallery
Cooking and gardening challenges and highlights, and adulting 101 classes
Cinema, concert, opera, and play viewings with discussions, and museum tours
Scavenger hunts, board game tourneys, and escape rooms
Karaoke nights, poetry slam nights, reader’s theaters, dance lessons, and collaborative Polity playlists
Health & Wellness meetings and discussions with meditation and mindfulness resources
Yes, the All-College Fair will be virtual (date and time to come), and we are also drafting a flyer with information on all clubs. To sign up for a time slot for the virtual fair and/or list your club in the flyer, please email Rachelle Munsey (rachelle.munsey(at)sjc.edu).
Yes, clubs are encouraged to meet virtually this fall! If you’d like assistance in brainstorming how to bring your club’s activities online or are seeking general support, don’t hesitate to reach out to Rachelle Munsey, community facilitator for activities and events (rachelle.munsey(at)sjc.edu). Our team would consider it our privilege to assist in any way we can.
Students who are approved for disability-based accommodations should email Danielle Lico (danielle.lico(at)sjc.edu) to determine how to best transition your accommodations into a remote learning environment. Students who have not requested letters for their tutors for the Fall 2020 semester are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
Students who have not sought accommodations in the past should reach out to Danielle Lico as soon as possible to start the accommodation request process. Please note that it can take up to two weeks to have accommodations approved.
Classes at St. John’s are very small, intimate and discussion-based. As a student here, you will develop deep intellectual relationships in the classroom that will transfer out of the classroom in a variety of ways: from virtual student activities and events, to virtual clubs and gatherings. Because your studies are so consuming, you will naturally engage with other students around the ideas that you are so passionately exploring as well as reach out to them for insights and help. In addition, the college offers student assistants to help guide you in math, Greek, and more; these mentoring relationships often turn into true friendship.
The on-campus bookstore will not be open for browsing, but will be available for the purchase of books through online orders and have limited in-person pickup hours.
The library is planning to be open with reduced hours to students who are living in Annapolis, so long as this is congruent with state and county guidelines and guidance provided by library organizations. Library patrons must wear masks and maintain social distance at all times. There will be additional changes in procedure to protect the health and safety of patrons.
The Career Services Office will offer a full calendar of virtual events during the fall semester. This programming will range from resume and cover letter and graduate school planning workshops to panels and conversations with alumni and information sessions about the Hodson and Pathways summer grant programs, among others.
Staff members will be available for “walk-in” hours as well as individual student meetings to discuss anything related to future planning, jobs, and internship searches.
Medical appointments will be available via telehealth to all students located in most places within the United States and a limited number of in-person appointments are available to students in Annapolis. The Student Health & Wellness Center will have modified appointment times and procedures to allow for additional cleaning and safety measures. Because the regulations governing the provision of health care varies by state, we may not be able to provide services to all students.
Students seeking appointments should call 410-626-2553 to schedule an appointment. In order to protect the safety of our campus, there will be no walk-ins allowed.
All counseling and psychiatric appointments will be done via telehealth this fall. Because the regulations governing the provision of mental health care varies by state, we may not be able to provide services to all students. Students who wish to explore counseling or psychiatric services should email counseling(at)sjc.edu. There will be no walk-in counseling appointments available.
Students who need crisis support are encouraged to contact CareConnect for immediate support.
Students who want to explore telehealth counseling outside of the counseling center are encouraged to explore BetterHelp.com.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly brought on extensive new costs for the college, as well as extensive revenue losses. This reality is true across the higher education sector, and St. John’s College is not immune from this financial upheaval. However, in the midst of so much uncertainty, the college is in a stronger position than most small colleges thanks to the measures taken over the last four years, including the reality that we have raised more than $225 million of our $300 million capital campaign goal. Because of our commitment to working toward a balanced budget, combined with the outpouring of support for our Freeing Minds campaign, St. John’s is confronting this crisis from a position of greater strength, with firmer financial ground beneath us and a stronger support system in place for students. Our continued success depends on our wider community’s continued support.
We are ready for an online fall and will continue to work toward the resumption of in-person classes in the spring, with the understanding that some details will remain fluid as state and local authorities continue to modify their recommendations. It is likely that online instruction will continue into the spring to some extent. The results from our Spring 2020 online experience have been surprisingly reassuring, with technological disruptions minimal, classroom discussions robust, and lines of communication remaining clear and open between students, staff, and faculty. In addition, we have learned that the simplicity of what we do—books and deep conversation—transfers better to an online environment than most college programs.
Like many other small colleges, St. John’s has been actively preparing for enrollment challenges that we knew were headed our way. Although the pandemic is now exacerbating those challenges, our distinctive Program is showing its strength in a highly competitive environment. We are realistic, however, about the higher costs that we will incur on both campuses as we take measures to ensure the health of our community and meet the financial need of our students. Continued support for the Freeing Minds campaign, which is the foundation of our new philanthropy-centered financial model, remains the key to our financial stability and an important tool for minimizing our dependence on student-derived revenue.
Many of our students, parents, alumni, and donors have asked how the college is doing financially during COVID-19. The good news is that we have spent the last four years tightening our belt, balancing our budget, reducing inefficiencies, and working collegewide across the two campuses to streamline administration. We are two-thirds of the way through our $300 million capital campaign aimed at funding our lowered tuition price, and our goal is in sight. We are very lucky when we compare ourselves with many small private colleges struggling through the pandemic. But we are not immune to its effects. This year will set us back significantly with the considerable costs of preparing to keep students safe, the loss of this past spring and this fall’s housing revenue, and the likely loss of tuition revenue from those who choose not to attend college at all this fall. As the college strives to continue serving a population that is less advantaged on average than that of most of our peers, and at a time when these students have been dramatically affected by the pandemic, we will need the help of those in our community who have the means to step forward.
If you want to help students, faculty, and staff work our way through these difficult times, please support the Fund for St. John’s or the Student Emergency Relief Fund.
In order to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the St. John's College campus community, our friends and families, and the wider Annapolis population, we are closing our campus to outside visitors, groups, and events through May of 2021.
These restrictions include:
Any outside visitors to campus without previously authorized business to conduct with the college.
Use of the college grounds for pedestrian traffic, recreation, and dog walking.
Visitors to the Mitchell Gallery (closed through 2021).
At this time we are considering limited on-campus tours starting September 15 with health restrictions in place. We also encourage you to learn more about St. John’s through our virtual tours and virtual visit program or by contacting admissions(at)sjc.edu.
Limited testing will be available for students who are planning to move to Annapolis. Per the recent order from Governor Hogan, persons arriving into the state from locations with high rates is COVID-19 need to self-isolate for 14 days or be tested. Students who are interested in this testing should email Danielle Lico (danielle.lico(at)sjc.edu).
All of the costs associated with testing will be processed through individuals’ insurance plans; any non-covered expenses will be covered by the college. If you receive a bill associated with this testing, please contact the Student Health & Wellness Center.
Face coverings are an important tool in reducing the risk of the spread of COVID-19. All persons who enter campus are required to wear masks that fully cover their mouths and noses when in indoor common and public areas of the college.
Staff and tutors are required to wear masks in private offices only when meeting with others. The use of masks is not required when in an office alone.
Strategies like social distancing, face coverings, and de-densification measures can only succeed at reducing risk with the vigorous participation of the entire campus community. If you see someone not wearing a mask or not following other guidelines, we encourage community members to politely remind them to do so.
Mitigating risks to the health and safety of the entire community is both a shared benefit and a shared responsibility. If you are uncomfortable addressing a situation directly with those involved, please seek out the support of Public Safety, the Assistant Dean, or the Associate Dean.
