August 25, 2020
Another milestone in St. John’s Return to Campus plan was reached this month, as 1,490 new and returning students moved into a reduced occupancy Residence Village of the Queens, NY campus for the start of the fall semester.
“As we welcomed students to campus during this move-in week, the spirit of St. John’s was on full display,” said Kathryn T. Hutchinson, Ph.D. ’92G, Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs. “Students and families were excited about the opportunity to be on campus and displayed their commitment to doing what it takes to care for each other—wearing face coverings despite the heat, social distancing, and taking care not to gather in large groups. And yes, the smell of hand sanitizer was hanging in the air.”
Move-In at St. John’s traditionally takes place over Labor Day weekend. However, with classes beginning on August 24—approximately two weeks earlier than usual—Move-In was rescheduled accordingly, with resident students arriving on campus August 18–23.
“We scheduled Move-In by appointments and staggered arrivals of students over the course of six days,” said Eric M. Finkelstein, Director of Residence Life. “Our continuing students moved in over a few days in the earlier part of the week, and our new students moved in on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”
Students who hail from states included in New York’s COVID-19 travel advisory moved into the Residence Village on August 1 so they could safely undergo a two-week quarantine on campus. To accommodate social distancing practices, there are no triples and quads on campus this year.
While Move-In is often a family affair, out of an abundance of caution, only one family member was permitted to accompany residential students into their rooms this year. Both the student and guest were required to undergo a health screening prior to entry—one of many measures St. John’s has taken to ensure the health and safety of the University community this year.
“The Fall 2020 semester will be unlike any in our 150 years of educating students, yet I am filled with gratitude and hope,” said Dr. Hutchinson.
“Ours is a community that truly takes care of its own, as evidenced by the agreement to the Johnnies Care Commitment.”
The Johnnies Care Commitment is a pledge to take care of one another by following best practices and public health guidelines to protect our campus community during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, all students and employees are required to complete a “Campus Pass” self-screening prior to entering campus each day, and face coverings must be worn at all times.
In addition, classrooms have been reconfigured following social distancing guidelines to minimize density, and classes will be delivered though in-person, online, and hybrid formats. Events and gatherings of student organizations and clubs will be held virtually this semester.
To ease congestion in dining areas on campus, students can order food directly through Boost, a mobile ordering app. Tap-and-go terminals are also available at all dining registers; in Montgoris Dining Hall, a new self-check-in system allows students to bypass the cashiers.
“If you look around campus, you can see all of the changes that have been made since the spring,” said junior Jordan Wingate, from Hamden, CT. “They put a lot of effort into making it work, and it gives you a feeling of comfort. It is really good to be back.”
Ashley Gonzalez, a junior from Poughkeepsie, NY, expressed similar feelings about her return to campus. “It is great to see so many familiar faces again,” she said. “I moved in on Tuesday, and it was a breeze. From the moment I set foot back on campus, everything has been so well-coordinated. Now, I just cannot wait for classes to begin.”
Richard Cobley, whose son, William, is a sophomore, gave the University high marks for its Move-In process.
“From the Public Safety officers at the front gate, to the check-in people outside his building, everyone has been great,” he said.
“You can tell that people really care about the students. I love it here, and more importantly, William does, too. He is so excited to be back on campus.”
Students at the nearby Staten Island, NY, campus moved into the University’s garden-style campus apartments, eager to start the new semester.
Classes will run through November 20, with the University only closing on November 3, in observance of Election Day. Students will return to their homes during the weeklong Thanksgiving break, with remaining course work and finals taking place remotely through December 8.
“We are more than excited to welcome back our students to campus this fall,” said Mr. Finkelstein. “The experience may be a bit different, but our community will rise to the challenge because we are St. John’s tough.”