Dean’s Letter: Summer 2021

Dean Natalie McKnight sent the following letter to students on March 1 about the Summer 2021 semester. More details are available here. 

March 1, 2021

Dear Students,

I am very sorry to report that after extensive consultations with Global Programs, the Provost’s Office, and staff in London we have decided that we will not be able to run our Boston-London program or our one-week London Experience program this summer.  For the Class of 2024, in lieu of London, you will do your second semester on campus here in Boston as part of our Boston-New England Program, and you will continue to engage in rich interdisciplinary experiences as part of the curriculum.  Room and board options will be available for you this summer, and it will also be possible to study remotely.  Additional information on the Boston-New England program is here (/cgs/experiences/study-abroad/boston-new-england/summer-faqs/), and we will be contacting you soon with more details about registering for housing and classes.

I know this news is very disappointing, and all of us at CGS and Global Programs share the disappointment with you.  But the realities of the pandemic and the ongoing restrictions on travel and gathering in the UK make it impossible to host 600 students safely in London and to offer them the high quality cultural experiences that are a key element of the Boston-London and London Experience programs.  I will continue to work with Global Programs to determine if we can offer options for shorter London experiences for summer 2022 for both the Class of 2023 and the Class of 2024. In the meantime, we will hold a Town Hall on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 pm with deans and faculty present to address questions about the Boston-New England Program.  The Zoom link for the Town Hall is here:  https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/94002157417?pwd=bTg3RU1LdThxYWFHZm1IUVloL2luZz09 and the password is “CGS.”

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this process. While we’re all disappointed in this outcome, ultimately your safety and the quality of the experience we can offer are our top priorities. We look forward to spending the summer in Boston with our freshmen class, and we will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

With all best wishes,

Natalie McKnight, Dean, CGS