COVID-19 Update for Students:

Dear Students,  

As we continue efforts to curb the global and national spread of COVID-19, university leadership is announcing important changes in the way we educate our students and operate our university. We want to reiterate that there are no known cases of COVID-19 among members of the Bentley community at this time, but we believe proactive measures must be taken to help ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. 

The following policies will go into effect immediately: 

• Bentley will adopt online learning for all undergraduate and graduate students for the rest of the semester to allow you to continue your coursework and plan with greater certainty for the coming months.  
  • Decisions regarding Commencement will be made by April 23 at the latest. We will share comprehensive plans directly with the Class of 2020 and their families. 
     
• Following recommendations and guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Centers for Disease Control, any remaining campus gatherings will be kept to a maximum of 25 people; the Dana Center, Fitness Center and campus bookstore are closed; the library will close by end of day, March 17; and LaCava Lower Café will be limited to takeout options before closing at the end of the day on Friday, March 20.
   

We also want to let you know that in accordance with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s recommendation that universities maximize remote work opportunities, the university will ask the majority of faculty and staff to begin transitioning to remote work setups, where possible, through the end of the week. This week without classes was designed to prepare for this possible transition, and we remain confident in our ability to support you in your academic journey during this challenging time. You will have the full support of faculty and staff throughout the semester.  

While the physical library will be closed, the talented library staff will be available remotely to all students and faculty who need help with research and teaching. Additional details about remote tutoring and career services will be made available to you by the staff in these offices over the coming days.  

Tomorrow, the Residential Center will begin communicating directly with residential students about the process to move out their on-campus belongings in an efficient manner. We recognize that some students partially moved out over the weekend, and we will make sure you have the opportunity to collect your belongings at an appropriate time. We ask for your continued patience as we manage this extraordinary process. The limited number of students who will remain on campus will be contacted by Residential Life to discuss specific details related to travel, lodging and food service on campus. 

Many answers to frequently asked questions can be found here. If you have other questions or need clarification, please call the university’s coronavirus phone line at (781) 891-2012.  

We know this will be a difficult decision for many to hear. This is not how any of us envisioned the second half of the spring semester and we are sorry this has happened. But in these unprecedented times, it is a necessary step being taken by Bentley and other universities across the country, at the urging of health experts and government officials nationwide, to protect the public’s health. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of you, our students, as well as our faculty, staff and the entire Bentley community. 

We are all in this together and it will be our cooperation, collaboration and respect for one another that allow us to thrive, even in the face of uncertainty.  

The Bentley University Cabinet 

Alison Davis-Blake 
Donna Maria Blancero 
Josh Brand 
George Cangiano 
Carolina Figueroa 
Maureen Flores 
Maureen Forrester 
Christopher Joyce 
Amanda King 
Judy Malone 
Andrew Shepardson 
Bob Wittstein