Dear Students—New and Continuing, Undergraduate and Graduate—

We welcome you (back) to the classroom and to our academic year together, and we commend your ongoing efforts, individually and collectively, to learn, adapt, and pursue your studies at the college. This letter has been developed from a message first communicated to January Freshmen and Graduate Institute students this summer. These guidelines for academic expectations and classroom etiquette in the online environment are meant to complement and be consistent with the policies of our Student Handbook, the Statement of the Program, this Fall 2020 Semester FAQ, and other current policy updates.

This spring, the conditions of the disruption and interruption of in-person classes meant the college, at all levels, had to maintain a maximum of flexibility to address all the unknowns. We now move into a full fall semester in the undergraduate and graduate programs in which we know we will be completing classes online and are prepared to do so. It is important that we set reasonable and appropriate expectations, consistent with the education you came here for. That said, we will continue to be reasonable in our expectations, and continue to work together to address individual and group challenges.

Please contact the dean’s office, the assistant dean, the Graduate Institute, or other appropriate offices, if you have any questions about the following points. Your tutors can always be your primary source for guidance and exploration on how best to approach any academic challenges you are facing.

The basic position of the college is that students are prepared, present, and participating daily, in every class. This is a high bar. This is our aspiration. Though we know we will fall short at times, our form of education depends on renewing the attempt and meaningfully holding ourselves to this standard. That is the education you came here for. That is the education which we have promised you and which we are obligated to provide. The Attendance Policy for undergraduates in the Student Handbook articulates these values and expectations well. That policy is in normal effect this year (we always are willing to consider serious extenuating circumstances, and we will do so with particular care this fall). More generally, we will abide by the spirit and letter of the community principles, practices and policies that are elaborated in the St. John’s College, Santa Fe Student Handbook.

This means:

1. You need to have adequate technology—hardware, software, and (high speed) internet connectivity—to engage fully in your classes, including an appropriate digital device with screen size larger than a phone. Some find headphones very helpful for filtering out distractions. Please review as needed the minimum technology requirements.
2. You are responsible for acquiring these tools, on analogy with acquiring books for class, but the college is committed to providing assistance where feasible, needed, and appropriate. Please find more information on accessing support in this FAQ.
3. You are expected to be present—on-time, with video on at all times, in commonsense attire and physical setting—for the full duration of classes.
4. You should plan ahead and prepare the best available physical site for attending classes—quiet, private, well-lit, with good seating and work surface.
5. Your tutors continue to work hard to adapt, as needed, the curriculum and the conduct of classes, to achieve our aims in this online environment. Required assignments, with deadlines, remain integral to the work of your classes, and those deadlines are to be honored.
6. We expect tutors to be exceptionally transparent and communicative about what is reasonable and appropriate in this environment and about the standards and expectations for their individual classes.
7. Just as tutors will be communicating openly and proactively their expectations and observations on class conduct, so we expect students to be exceptionally proactive in communicating with your tutors about any issues as they arise. If attendance, participation, the classroom environment, technology, or any other issues are impeding your academic work and progress, you need to reach out and communicate early with your tutors (as well as with any other appropriate members of our community or offices available to offer support or solutions).
8. There will not be Pass/Fail grading options this fall. Normal letter grades, based on stated and reasonable expectations from your tutors, will be assigned, per usual and the Student Handbook.
9. Tutors may work with individuals, whose regular participation is temporarily impaired, to assign supplementary work, if the tutor deems this appropriate.
10. Please keep in mind all the support that is available to you, e.g:
    • The Assistant Dean is available to offer guidance and address challenges.
    • Academic Assistants and Mr. Baumann are available to offer support, including with writing or essay issues. The Writing Archon, Ms. Shukla, is also available to address writing issues or direct you to appropriate assistance.
    • The Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and the Graduate Institute Office are available to offer support and guidance to our graduate students.
    • IT support staff are available to help with technology issues.
11. Our college aspires to have a “no wrong door” approach to support: student life, the health office, the dean’s office, IT, the librarians, financial aid, the registrar’s office, and so on. If you are not sure where to take a question or issue, ask one of us. If you have serious obstacles to meeting academic expectations, your tutors, the assistant dean, or student life offices may be in the best position to help you address those issues, and either office can steer you in the right direction. Please communicate with us earlier rather than later, if the issues are serious.
12. We will finalize mid-semester how we will conduct don rags and conferences this fall. If the process continues to be conducted primarily in the form of written reports, we will expect every student to review their tutors’ reports and recommendations and to offer their own written comment, by analogy with live don rags.

We hope this information is encouraging and useful. We mean none of this as a stern warning. Rather, this reflects our commitment to fulfill the promises we make to you as students here—in The Statement of the Program, the Student Handbook, and in many other ways—the promises on which you based your commitment of time, treasure, and talent, to the pursuit of your education at St. John’s College.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the dean’s office.

J. Walter Sterling, Dean
Ned Walpin, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs
Michael Golluber, Assistant Dean

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 will be for new international students in Santa Fe who are required to have some in-person classes to satisfy their F-1 visa requirements.

See President Roosevelt’s July 31, 2020 letter

As St. John’s College prepares 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, New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico Governor’s Office, Council of Independent Colleges, American College Health Association, and the University of New Mexico.

No, the fall academic calendar remains the same. Convocation will be held virtually on Thursday, August 27 and classes will begin with Seminar on Thursday, August 27.

Yes, the college will house a small group of international students who have unique travel and/or visa challenges to contend with. They will live in the apartments and suites and will have kitchens, which are essential due to the closure of the dining hall and coffee shop.

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 learning differences that make online study infeasible, 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.

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 Monday, August 10. 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.

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 over $225M toward our $300M 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 begins on Monday, August 24 with Convocation taking place on Thursday, August 27. New parent orientation programming will continue online. Revised schedules for both programs will be sent in the coming weeks.

Schedules will be distributed via mySJC the week that classes begin.

In order to allow for greater schedule flexibility and spreading out over the course of the day, we will reduce our single tutorial and laboratory periods to 70 minutes (from 85 minutes). This is the same as Annapolis’s long-standing schedule. We are reviewing our plans, but currently we still intend to have more class periods available each day (beginning at 8 a.m. and extending to 5:10 p.m. for tutorials and labs), including multiple start times for seminars: 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

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.

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.

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.

Students may place orders for manuals and books through the Santa Fe Bookstore’s online store. You may email santafe.bookstore(at)sjc.edu with any questions regarding your orders. Students may also request books from Meem Library. Please review the library’s FAQ, which includes instructions for requesting library books using our online catalog. Many texts are available digitally through the library’s library’s online resources. Additional questions regarding access to resources and library policies may be emailed to meem.library(at)sjc.edu.

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). Technical specifications are available online as a PDF document. Please review with care.

There are various funds available to assist students with technology needs from the CARES Act, Student Emergency Fund and more. For more information contact Executive Director of Campus Health and Wellness Christine Guevara at christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu.

Ongoing and sustained conversations between tutors and students is 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 Santa Fe may meet with tutors in-person, with the tutor’s consent, wearing masks and socially distanced. In-person meetings should be outdoors when possible.

Yes. The Assistant Dean hires, trains and supervises academic assistants who are available for support. This year, there will be enhanced academic assistance in response to the challenges posed by the need to go to online learning. At your service this year are 2 Greek assistants, 2 French assistants, 2 algebra assistants, 7 math assistants, as well as 3 student arts coordinators. This is all in addition to the laboratory and music assistants assigned to each of these classes. Writing assistants have been hired by the writing archon.

Lab classes will be a mix of live video demonstrations, pre-recorded laboratory demonstrations, data analysis based on video or numerical data, and DIY-at-home kits. We anticipate having approximately 8–10 lab assistants, who will assist faculty as needed. John Balwit will serve in the head assistant position.

Surveillance COVID testing is available at the New Mexico Department of Health Offices for free, though results may take several days to receive.

Please contact the Dean’s Office at 505-984-6070 or santafe.deansoffice(at)sjc.edu.

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 U.S. are required to live in Santa Fe and will be enrolled in at least one in-person class, as required to maintain your F-1 visa. For information, contact Christine Guevara at christine.guevara(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 are encouraged to consult with Christine Guevara (christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu) or Marline Scally (marline.scally(at)sjc.edu).

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.

Please contact International Student Advisor/DSO Marline Marquez Scally (mscally(at)sjc.edu) or PDSO Christine Guevara (christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu) to discuss your situation.

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 is committed to providing sufficient in-person classes for new international students living on campus, per their visa requirements. At this time, we anticipate two (out of four) classes will be held in a physical classroom, with hybrid apparatus if needed. The in-person classes will likely be the Mathematics Tutorial and the Language Tutorial, but this is still under review and analysis in light of the state-required protocols.

Yes, contact Sarah Reeve (sarah.reeve(at)sjc.edu), our housing coordinator to learn more.

Housing assignments will be finalized after students confirm their intentions for the fall semester. We expect assignments to go out by August 12.

We will work with international students individually on their needs, and they should contact our International Student Advisor/DSO Marline Scally (mscally(at)sjc.edu) or PDSO Christine Guevara (christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu). Incoming students should contact your admissions counselor as well.

International students who elect to live on campus will be the only students permitted to arrive on campus this fall. We will allow for our international on-campus residents to arrive to campus on or after August 17. The office of Student Life will be in contact with each student to become aware of travel schedules and to ensure their assigned room is ready for their arrival. The state of New Mexico currently requires anyone entering the state to quarantine for 14 days.

At this time, the state of New Mexico requires all visitors to quarantine for 14 days regardless of mode of travel.

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. International students residing on campus are not permitted to have someone not approved to be on campus to assist with move-in.

The college urges our international students to take all safety precautions possible before arriving on campus in order to keep exposure rates low in our community; this includes wearing masks, social distancing, and quarantining as much as possible before arriving on campus.

The state of New Mexico requires everyone entering the state to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. International students who elect to live on campus will be assigned housing in one of the suites or apartments in order to ensure that they have access to a kitchen. We will provide students with information on local business that provide online shopping with curbside pick-up options. Shuttles will run periodically to retrieve student orders and will be delivered to them while they are in quarantine.

International students living on campus should arrive in the fall with at least three reusable/washable face coverings (mouth and nose must be fully covered), hand sanitizer, a thermometer, and over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. In addition, we recommend students bring warm clothes like hats, gloves, scarves, and winter coats to heighten comfort while outside in colder months.

The international students who decide to join the campus community in person will be required to adhere to our newly developed COVID-19 policies. These policies include but are not limited to: the wearing of masks; social distancing; limiting gathering sizes in accordance with public health orders (currently set to a maximum of 5 people); closure of communal spaces and kitchens; 14-day quarantine upon arrival; and required testing on day 7 and day 14 followed by random COVID-19 testing throughout the year. Students who will not adhere to these guidelines will be removed from campus housing for the remainder of the semester.

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.

No bedrooms will be shared and no students will have roommates. Only students in apartments and suites will have suitemates. There will also be new policies for the use of shared bathrooms and an intensified cleaning schedule in shared bathrooms.

The dining hall and coffee shop will be closed. However, all international students will live in suites and apartments with their own kitchens.

The dining hall and coffee shop will be closed for the fall semester. Shared bathrooms and kitchens will have policies in place to ensure staggered usage/reduced capacity. All common kitchens and common spaces, including the Cave, will be closed.

If you are an international student who is immunocompromised, we strongly urge you to consider living off campus in a controlled environment and enroll in online classes.

Per the New Mexico Public Health Order, all students will be required to wear a mask at all times except when alone in the student’s private residential room, or when eating or drinking. Masks should always cover both the nose and the mouth.

Students, staff, and faculty who are on campus will be expected to follow daily screening protocols, which are currently in development. This may include the daily monitoring of temperatures and/or the use of screening apps on phones. More information on this will be provided when finalized.

All international students living on campus will be required to test on day 7 and day 14 after arrival, followed by random COVID-19 testing throughout the semester. If there is a positive test result, the student will be moved into one of the college’s isolation units. The New Mexico Department of Health will be notified to conduct contact tracing for our community. We will continue to test random samples of students monthly throughout the semester. Students are expected to comply with testing expectations or opt to live off campus.

We are working with the New Mexico Department of Health to provide the testing to students. The state of New Mexico has mandated that all COVID-19 tests be 100 percent covered. This means that NMDOH will file directly with each student’s insurance company and 100 percent of the cost will be covered. No bills for any testing provided on behalf of the college will be sent to the student.

We have secured isolation units on campus for students who test positive for COVID-19. We have a team in place to deliver meals and other necessities to students in isolation and will monitor their health via our health center or outside support, as needed. Students in isolation will be permitted to continue with their classes during that period of time (as their health permits). Exposed students will be expected to quarantine until testing can occur.

Nobody will have a roommate this year. If a suite or apartment mate tests positive for COVID-19, that individual will be transferred to a St. John’s-provided isolation unit. The New Mexico Department of Health will be notified of any positive COVID-19 test results and will interview and screen students to determine who has been exposed. Exposed students will be expected to quarantine in their room; if an exposed student tests positive they will be moved into our isolation units.

We have secured sufficient isolation units for any international students who test positive. These units are equipped with private bathrooms, and are within walking distance of campus. Students who are exposed to students who test positive will be required to undergo screening and quarantine within their current residence. We will also have policies in place to ensure that bathrooms are not overcrowded and are on an intensified cleaning schedule.

International residents are asked to use caution when conducting activity off campus, such as adhering to social distancing protocols, wearing masks, and avoiding large crowds. Students who elect to leave the state will no longer be permitted to remain in on-campus housing.

We will continue to offer shuttle services for our students into town. Since we are only able to shuttle a couple of students at a time, we will do our best to offer sufficient hours each week to allow students access to essential businesses.

If an international student residing on campus chooses to travel out of state for Thanksgiving break, they will not be allowed back into the residence hall and should consider this their move-out date for the semester. If a student chooses to travel out of state for Thanksgiving, they will not receive room and board refunds for the weeks that they are no longer residing on campus.

Students living on-campus should recognize that we may be asked to close the campus mid-semester. We will have supplies on site to assist students with move-out if that is required. Students will receive room and board refunds for the weeks not spent in the residence halls.

All staff and faculty who can complete their work from home will do so. This does not include faculty who have elected to teach on-campus classes.

Our senior residents and public safety officers will be on campus offering support to our students. A variety of other essential staff will also be on campus, and faculty often teach their remote classes from their faculty offices.

Yes, the campus will be closed to all but the international students who have been approved to live on campus and those who provide services to the campus community.

If you are an international student and do not believe in and/or will not follow our health and safety policies this fall, you should seek off-campus housing. We understand that families have different values and approaches to safety in the time of COVID-19, and we do not want to force any students to engage in precautions that they do not believe in. At the same time, we are required to follow and enforce federal, state, and higher education safety protocols as well as care for all members of our campus community.

Freshmen should contact your admissions counselor. Returning students should contact Christine Guevera, executive director of campus health and wellness (christine.guevera(at)sjc.edu).

The fall semester dates remain the same, with classes starting with the Meno seminar for new graduate students on Thursday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. and classes beginning for all graduate 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 Graduate Institute students will occur virtually. Orientation sessions will begin on Monday, August 24 and end on Friday, August 28. Included in these sessions will be the Introductory Meno Seminar on Thursday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. MT and Graduate Institute Office session on Friday, August 28 at 4 p.m. MT.

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 Office of the Graduate Institute when your class plan has been set. Books for all Graduate Institute classes may be ordered for delivery by mail from the Santa Fe Online Bookstore.

A full range of academic support will be available to students virtually. Student assistants 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 Office of 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 your degree. If you are interested in deferring and discussing your plan, please contact the Office of the Graduate Institute.

The Graduate Institute and Graduate Student Council will develop opportunities for Graduate Institute 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.

Surveillance COVID testing is available at the New Mexico Department of Health Offices for free, though results may take several days to receive. Make an appointment online.

Students should have a computer with a video camera and an internet service which permit them to stream video by Zoom or Teams. Students may also need to obtain an inexpensive tablet and a stylus for doing board work during tutorials.  Please consult Graduate Institute Office for more information (there is a fund available for those who need support purchasing these devices). Technical specifications are available online as a PDF document. Please review with care.

There are various funds available to assist students with technology needs from the CARES Act, Student Emergency Fund, and more. For more information contact Executive Director of Campus Health and Wellness Christine Guevara (christine.guevara(at)sjc.edu).

Ongoing and sustained conversations between tutors and students is 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 Santa Fe 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 Ryan Johnson, associate director of graduate admissions (ryan.johnson(at)sjc.edu), and returning Graduate Institute students should contact Chelsey Hudson, graduate program administrator, or Ned Walpin, associate dean for graduate programs (edward.walpin(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 international students living on campus). We are also removing the Health Office 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 the Financial Aid office (santafe.financialaid(at)sjc.edu).

Our goal is to provide free telehealth services to as many students as possible during this difficult time. We will waive this semester’s Health Center fee to all students and will also provide medical appointments via telehealth to all students located within the United States. All counseling and psychiatric appointments will be done via telehealth this fall. Please note that the regulations governing the provision of mental health care varies by state; therefore we may not be able to provide services to all students.

Incoming freshmen may defer their deposit to either January 2021 or Fall 2021. Returning students may request a refund for this term.

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 sfstudentaccounts(at)sjc.edu.

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 31. 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 Cesar Cervantes (cesar.cervantes(at)sjc.edu), director of student life to obtain support and guidance for finding a place off campus.

The Office of Student Life will assess availability and do our best to assign students the same room as they selected during the spring lottery.

Please see the section titled Financial Matters.

Yes, students on an F-1 visa who were previously hired as RAs for the 2020–21 school year will continue to be RAs on campus if they would like. These students will continue to provide peer support, student activities, and community building on campus.

The Assistant Dean’s Office and Office of Student Life are 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 Student Life Office will be working closely with the community 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.

Students who are approved for disability-based accommodations should email Christine Guevara (christine.guevara(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 Christine Guevara 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.

For now, the bookstore will be closed to everyone but bookstore staff. We hope to phase in our in-store bookstore browsing but it will depend on state, local and college guidelines as well as the health of our community members. The book store will offer delivery by mail while we are closed to browsing. To place orders contact santafe.bookstore(at)sjc.edu.

For now the Meem Library facility will remain closed to everyone but library staff, with the exception of one designated study room where community members will pick up their book requests. We hope to phase open the facility according to state, college, and American Library Association guidelines. Those students not living on campus can request to have library materials mailed to them. Please follow the instructions emailed to you for requesting books through our online catalog and send your current mailing address to meem.library(at)sjc.edu. Additional information is available in the library FAQ.

The SAC weight room will be open to our international students living on campus this fall. Equipment stations will be six feet apart, some equipment will not be available for use, and the sharing of equipment will not be permitted. The basketball courts, racquetball courts, locker rooms, and showers will be closed until further notice. Students will have use of the SAC for one-hour appointments only (no walk-ins) to allow for appropriate social distancing. We are currently working on a plan to rent/loan bikes and outdoor adventure equipment.

The Office of Personal & Professional Development will offer a full calendar of virtual events during the fall semester. This programming will range from resume, career exploration, life skills, and professional interviewing workshops to panels and conversations with alumni and information sessions about the ARIEL 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.

For additional information please email santafe.oppd(at)sjc.edu.

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 santafe.studenthealth(at)sjc.edu. There will be no walk-in counseling appointments available.

Students who need crisis support are encouraged to contact the switchboard for immediate support.

Students who want to explore telehealth counseling outside of the counseling center are encouraged to explore BetterHelp.com.

The college will not provide self-isolation or quarantine housing for students who elect to return to Santa Fe while taking online classes this fall.

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 over $225M towards our five-year $300M 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’s 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.

To learn more, contact development(at)sjc.edu and you will be connected with the best person to answer your particular questions.

In order to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the St. John's College campus community, our friends and families, and the wider Santa Fe population, we are closing our campus to outside visitors, groups, and events through May of 2021.

At this time we are considering limited on-campus tours starting September 15, with restrictions in place. There will be no overnight visits throughout the fall semester. Contact the Admissions Office for more information (admissions(at)sjc.edu).

Yes, the college will house a small group of international students who have unique travel and/or visa challenges to contend with. They will live in the apartments and suites and will have kitchens, which are essential due to the closure of the dining hall and coffee shop.

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, or the Director of Student Life.

The Dining Hall will not be open during the Fall semester.

The Coffee Shop will not be open during the Fall semester.

Students living in Santa Fe are not permitted to come to campus but, like all New Mexico residents, are expected to wear masks and adhere to expectations around social distancing.

Faculty and staff will continue to work from home for the fall semester. Only essential personnel will be working from campus. If college leadership decides to have staff return to working from campus before the end of the fall semester, that information will be communicated at that time. We do understand that there may be a need to be on campus. Please limit these visits for only essential tasks and you need to contact HR before going to campus to get permission to do so. Faculty can continue to use their faculty offices to teach their online classes if they choose to do so, but they must comply with the college’s mandate to wear a face covering and to maintain a minimum of six feet of social distancing any time they are outside of their assigned office. Please wash your hands frequently and stay home if you have any symptoms.

We understand that most K-12 school districts have announced that they will at least start the academic year with online instruction. We are asking supervisors to be flexible with staff regarding the time of day that work is performed so that parents have flexibility to assist children with remote schooling and other matters. Employees who have questions about this matter should contact HR.

All persons on campus are required to wear face coverings that fully cover their mouths and noses when in indoor common and public areas of the college. This includes classrooms, meeting rooms, hallways, offices, and other shared spaces.

Staff and tutors are required to wear face coverings in private offices only when meeting with others. The use of face coverings is not required when in an office alone.

Yes, but if you do not have a sufficient face covering, the college will provide all employees with a cloth face covering - simply contact HR with your request. It is recommended that you keep an extra face covering in your office or desk. Other PPE will be provided to employees based upon the specific requirements of your position. Frequent hand washing is strongly recommended, and hand sanitizer will be available in many locations throughout campus.

Any medical documentation or questions about specific employee concerns should be directed to Aaron Young (aaron.young(at)sjc.edu), director of human resources, and not discussed with other offices or employees.

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 face covering 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 or HR.

Please instruct the potential infected employee to remain at home until released by a physician or public health official. If a doctor’s note releasing the employee is unavailable, follow the CDC guidelines on when an employee may discontinue self-isolation, which contain specific requirements dependent upon whether the employee tested positive for COVID-19 and/or exhibited symptoms. Any employee on our health plans has access to Telehealth to get quick advice if a doctor’s appointment is not available, immediately. Please contact Aaron Young in Human Resources immediately at aaron.young(at)sjc.edu if you have an employee who is experiencing symptoms.

Please instruct the potential infected employee to remain at home until released by a physician or public health official. If a doctor’s note releasing the employee is unavailable, follow the CDC guidelines on when an employee may discontinue self-isolation, which contain specific requirements dependent upon whether the employee tested positive for COVID-19 and/or exhibited symptoms. Email Aaron Young at aaron.young(at)sjc.edu with this information and any documentation and/or information the employee has given or told you.

The college is required to track leave in a different manner in these cases. Please reach out to Aaron Young (aaron.young(at)sjc.edu) to request the leave tracking information.

Language

An Introduction to Ancient Greek: A Literary Approach, 2nd edition, C.A.E. Luschnig

It will be helpful to become familiar with using a Greek keyboard for typing.

Students should also have a physical notebook for practicing paradigms.

Mathematics

Euclid, Elements, Green Lion Press edition preferred

Laboratory

Freshman Laboratory Source Texts (available from the SJC [Santa Fe] bookstore)

Hardbound “laboratory notebook”: a hardbound (not loose-leaf or spiral bound,) quadrille ruled notebook, 5 x 8.25 or 8.5 x 11 or A-4, in which formal notes and drawing will be made and kept. An example can be found on Amazon.

Language

1. The primary Greek text for the fall semester will be Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. All sections will be using the same Greek edition:

   Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus: Greek Text with Facing Vocabulary and Commentary, by Geoffrey Steadman (February 25, 2015).

   NB: this edition will not be available for purchase at the SJC Bookstore, but may be purchased at Amazon.com. ($14.95). We urge you to obtain a copy well in advance of the beginning of the semester. The book is also available as a free digital file at geoffreysteadman.com. The digital file will be helpful for online class sharing, but a paper copy is strongly advised (Don’t try to use a single device both to read the text and to participate in the Zoom class meeting). Copies of the Bryn Mawr Greek Commentaries edition of Oedipus Tyrannus will be available in the SJC Bookstore for those who would like an alternative reference.

2. Most sections will begin the semester by translating parts of Genesis in The Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament (Tutors will contact their classes individually regarding first assignments.) Genesis chapters in Greek are available online.

3. A Greek-English Lexicon. The standard version is Liddell and Scott, and is available at the SJC Bookstore in paperback form. It is also available online at the Perseus Digital Library.

4. Grammar reference: retain your Luschnig textbook for this purpose, or the Mollin and Williamson manual. Optional: Purchase a grammar reference book. The SJC bookstore has some copies available. (Less expensive options: Oxford Grammar of Classical Greek, by James Morwood; or A Greek Grammar, by William W. Goodwin. A long-term investment: Greek Grammar, by Herbert Weir Smyth. Smyth is also available online as a pdf.)

Mathematics

• Ptolemy, Almagest, Green Lion Edition
• Copernicus, On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres, Prometheus/Great Minds series
• Kepler, Selections from Kepler’s Astronomia Nova, Science Classics Module edition/Green Lion edition
• Apollonius, Conics, Green Lion edition

Music

• Sophomore Music Manual Fall Edition; The Study of Counterpoint, from Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum, translated by Thomas Mann
• Aaron Copland, What to Listen for When Listening to Music

Language

• Palmieri and Milligan French for Reading Knowledge
• La Rochefoucauld, Maxims; French-language edition required
• Pascal, Pensées; French-language edition required

Mathematics

• Junior Mathematics Manual 2018–2019
• Newton Principia: the Central Argument, Densmore and Donahue
  • or Newton Principia translated by Andrew Motte and revised by Florain Cajori
  • or em>Isaac Newton, The Principia translated by Cohen and Whitman

Laboratory

• Junior Lab Binder (only Supplements section, we will send Practica write-ups once they are finalized).
• Galileo, Two New Sciences
• Junior Lab Fall Source Texts (available from SJC bookstore)

Language

• French and English editions of Camus, Le Peste
• Baudelaire, Les fleurs du mal; French-language edition required
• Samuel Beckett, En attendant Godot, Grove Press bilingual edition, (for David Carl and Llyd Wells’s classes, not needed in opening week)
• All seniors should also have a good French dictionary.

Mathematics

• Einstein, The Principle of Relativity, Dover edition
• Einstein, Relativity: The Special and General Theory
• Senior Math Manual

Laboratory

• Max Planck, Eight Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Dover edition
• Senior Laboratory Source Texts 2020–2021 (available from SJC bookstore)
• Senior Lab Binder with Practica and Supplements
• Special Instructions for DIY practica. Students will be sent boxes of materials for the DIY practica.