[Gsc-hca-family] [Gsc-hca-all] [Action required] July HCA Meeting

Wed Jul 15 14:39:59 EDT 2020

Dear all,

I also wanted to share with you this information from David Friedrich, director of Housing. You can feel free to disseminate to your constituents

We are working on updates to the Fall 2020 graduate housing page which will include this FAQ information (link:https://studentlife.mit.edu/gradfall2020).

  *   When will housing announce the new timeline for Site 4?
     *   At this time, we are awaiting an official announcement from the Office of Campus Planning about the completion timeline for the Graduate Tower at Site 4.  The announcement will include updates about all campus projects that were impacted by the construction moratorium and other delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  *   Will residents be expected to move during the Fall semester or IAP?
     *   Housing & Residential Services (HRS) understands the complexities and inconveniences caused by a mid-semester move into the new Graduate Tower at Site 4.  Once a finalized opening date for the building is established, HRS will work with each resident to transition into their new home.  This will include coordinating move-in dates that account for students’ unique situations and academic commitments.
  *   How does housing plan to accommodate residents who were meant to move into Site 4 during the Fall? Current Eastgate residents have not yet received new license agreements to allow them to remain in Eastgate.
     *   While we do not have a precise opening date for the Graduate Tower at Site 4, students with assignments in the new building should expect a mid-year move, sometime between November and January.   MIT will facilitate and pay for the cost of moving belongings from on-campus residences to the new Graduate Tower at Site 4.  HRS will continue to provide housing for those transitioning to the new building until it opens—even if this is after the July 31, 2020 license agreement termination date.  HRS is currently working to finalize temporary license agreements for the extended housing period in Eastgate which we anticipate sharing within the next week.  This new license agreements will include updated COVID-19 housing policies and other community expectations associated with living on campus this fall.
  *   When will the Eastgate garden/playground be reopened? Residents received an email last week indicating that they would be able to access the space, but this does not seem to be the case (card access is still blocked).
     *   At this time, the Eastgate playground should be accessible to Eastgate residents.  Any residents who are experiencing issues with accessing this recreational space are encouraged to contact Naomi Carton, Associate Dean of Graduate Residential Education, via email atnaomic at mit.edu<mailto:naomic at mit.edu>.

  *   Housing has/had a rule that spouse/partner of a student has to join them within 30 days after the student moves into housing. Some students' spouses are stuck abroad (difficult to get visas in China, and the latest executive orders) and there has been no official communication that the rule won't apply if spouse/partner is unable to join within deadline based on these reasons. Has this policy been updated? If so, it be possible to share the information with the interested parties?
     *   As we have done in the past, HRS will work with students whose spouses are experiencing delays due to visa and travel restrictions. If a student or partner in family housing is anticipating severe delays, they should contact their Assignments Associate, Geri-Lyn Bowen, geralou at mit.edu<mailto:geralou at mit.edu>, for assistance.
  *   As we approach the Fall, do you think it would be possible to brief graduate students who are planning to rent a room for 2020/2021 about what options are on the table in terms of guest policy?
     *   We continue to rely on guidance from MIT Medical, MIT Emergency Management and other campus partners when developing residential policies.  MIT has taken a more conservative approach to protecting the residential community, which includes limiting residents’ potential exposure to the virus. Staff from across the Division of Student Life, Heads of House, and the COVID-19 Student Policy Committee, which is comprised of an array of members including students, are currently discussing and reviewing guest and visitor policies for the fall semester. Once a decision has been made regarding these housing policies, this will be communicated to students and incorporated into a learning module that all returning students will be required to complete.

Best

Lucio

On Jul 15, 2020, at 11:41 AM, Lucio Maria Milanese <milanese at mit.edu<mailto:milanese at mit.edu>> wrote:

Dear all,

This is just a gentle reminder of this happening later today.

Thanks for sending out updates and suggestions for the meeting, please feel free to keep sending these.

See you later

Thank you

Best

Lucio

On Jul 9, 2020, at 11:31 PM, Lucio Maria Milanese <milanese at mit.edu<mailto:milanese at mit.edu>> wrote:

Dear GSC Housing & Community Affairs (HCA) members,

Our next meeting is going to be held on Wednesday July 15th from 6pm-7:30pm via zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/2258211573<http://library.mit.edu/F?func=find-b&sourceid=libxmit&local_base=mit01pub&find_code=ISSN&request=2258211573>.

Before we meet, please reply back to me with the following two items so that we can compile them into a meeting packet:

  1.  A short list of bullet point updates from your dorm / subcommittee / just things you think HCA should know
  2.  Do you have any questions or topics you want to discuss with the members of HCA? (It is OK if you don't! We can streamline discussion if we focus on things people actually want feedback on)

Best,
Lucio

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