President Wippman and the senior faculty hosted a Zoom meeting on May 5, addressing questions from the Hamilton community on a number of coronavirus-related topics. While concrete answers and definitive dates remain — for obvious reasons — largely elusive, plenty of important information was nonetheless communicated. Outlined below are some key takeaways from Tuesday morning’s Q&A.

The Three Scenarios

Hamilton is currently considering three basic scenarios: President Wippman classified them as best-case, worst-case, and in-between. Ideally, the college is planning to start on time this fall, bringing students back to campus as early as August 18th. Of course, this is no guarantee, and President Wippman emphasized that much still needs to happen for classes to resume as normal. The worst-case scenario would be that remote instruction is forced to continue in the fall; and the in-between could include any number of unforeseen circumstances, depending on the course of the virus. President Wippman tentatively placed a more definitive announcement regarding next semester in June or early July.

Regional reopening

Oneida County is in a good position in terms of reopening, fulfilling five out of the seven necessary requirements to do so. No other county in the state has met more than five; most have met fewer. The college is looking to partner with local hospitals and other organizations to ensure that it will be well-prepared for reopening, whenever that may be.

2020 Graduation

A virtual commencement will take place on May 24th, at the same time as was originally scheduled. President Wippman mentioned that the ceremony will be made “festive” and “memorable” in an effort to recognize the achievements of the graduating class. An in-person ceremony is also planned, and the college is arranging for some kind of senior week to still take place as well. Dates for these events are yet to be determined.

Grading

Dean Keen stressed that the mandatory credit/no-credit policy applies only to this current semester. As to why students were not allowed to choose between credit/no-credit and letter grades, she explained that faculty had decided that the blanket policy was simply more equitable, given the varied circumstances in which Hamilton students now find themselves. The fact that the credit/no-credit system was not optional will be noted on official transcripts.

Gathering belongings

A decision has not been reached regarding when students may return to campus to retrieve their belongings, according to Dean Martinez. The Office of Residential Life will send out an email in the next few weeks, asking students if they plan on returning in person to pack up their things, or if they would prefer the college to do it for them.

Housing

Dean Martinez stated that the uncertainty surrounding both next semester’s study abroad programs and international students’ travels back to campus factored into the housing selection date being pushed back. The college decided that delaying the process would be more reasonable than potentially having to rescind housing assignments. Dean Martinez said that while no new date has been set for room selection, the online system would allow for it to take place as late as early July, if needed.

Financial aid

Vice President for Enrollment Management Monica Inzer emphasized that the financial office is being flexible with awarding financial aid for the upcoming year, doing so on a rolling basis. Changing financial circumstances due to the current pandemic will have to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as financial aid awards are based on earnings from the previous year. Inzer encouraged families to reached out to the office with any personal concerns regarding coronavirus-born financial changes, which have to be documented for the college to provide assistance.