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Dear Physics Community, 

This is the most difficult day for many of us so far: while our focus is on the MIT community, many schools closed yesterday, placing a huge burden on many with children.  Please be patient with everyone around.  Please go home if you can.  Please say “Please” and “Thank you”.  Please remember things you say and do now will matter later.

From the Academic Continuity Phone Call

 The Academic Continuity Phone Call will continue through the weekend.  I will send along any new information from them I receive.

 The situation at MIT evolved very quickly overnight and the senior leadership moved the move-out day up to Sunday.  The concern that prompted this was that COVID-19 could spread in the living groups between now and Tuesday, so there is a premium on getting everyone out. Details are here: http://news.mit.edu/2020/letter-regarding-cancellation-friday-classes-and-expedited-undergraduate-move-out-0312.

 We are now in a mode where everyone should work from home if at all possible.  Guidance is here: http://news.mit.edu/2020/letter-work-home-covid-19-0312.  Please do not come in if you do not need to.

 The student protest yesterday caused serious problems for DSL in getting through the petitions.  I understand the frustration many of us feel with our students being sent to problematic places, but I do feel that DSL is doing their level best.  Today, Suzy Nelson reported that they have 700 petitions and were still processing.  So far, 250 students will be allowed to stay, I do not know what the success rate is.

 The DSL team, who will have to take care of our students who remain, is at the breaking point and I believe further interventions by students or faculty will not help keep students at MIT and could have negative consequences for DSL staff.   If you want to help students who have had petitions denied, it is best to put them in touch with the Alumni Association who is trying to arrange local hosting.  I do not have contact information for them yet.

 About local hosting: Cindy Barnhardt was very clear MIT cannot allow this and MIT does have the power to forbid an employee (including faculty) from hosting students.  She said they were not telling the alumni association not to match students with faculty, however.  Email me (fisherp@mit.edu) for more information.

 Rick Danheiser sent a message about emergency course policies.  P/NR/I will be mandated for Spring term and second half term (H4) subjects.  See https://facultygovernance.mit.edu/rules-and-regulations#2-64. There will be a detailed message later.  I have been contacted by many students asking if they can have grades or hidden grades.  My response this is a problem for next week.

 Guidance for graduate students and their advisors has just come out and is attached below.

I do not have guidance on research labs, but we were told some was coming.  Each lab should be prepared for safe mode.   “Safe mode” means the lab can be unattended for 6-8 weeks. I do not know if this will happen, but please be prepared.

 IST now have a site wide license and is working hard to beef up computing infrastructure.

 Physics Specific

 Please cancel all oral general exams between now and March 30 and allow flexibility in scheduling after that.  All exams should be virtual.  The Department will extend all deadlines for oral general exams by a term if needed.

 Thesis defenses must be virtual with perhaps the advisor in the room with the student.  Please be flexible about rescheduling.

 Right now, we should focus on ourselves and our students well being.  Next week, we will work on teaching, http://teachremote.mit.edu/.

 I’d like to thank Barton for his lunch talk – a welcome moment of semi-normalcy yesterday.

 Some of the Physics Class of 2020 gathered yesterday.  I want to thank, in the strongest possible way,  the APO staff for the certificates and goody bags.  Thank you also to the faculty and students who came.

 We will gather again in better times to celebrate the Class of 2020.

 Peter