Ithaca College

Dear Ithaca College students, families, and loved ones,

As we near the end of a very unexpected academic year, I want to first take a moment to thank you for hanging in there with us as we continue to navigate an incredibly fluid situation around our current public health crisis. Second, I want to share with you my tremendous enthusiasm for what is going to be an extraordinary summer for Ithaca College.

As I announced on April 23, IC will not be offering on-campus classes in June and July. This decision has activated our faculty and staff to collaborate in new ways on the creation of a unique slate of virtual summer programming that is designed not only to be innovative and inspiring, but to enable our students to not miss a beat with their IC experience.

Under the shared academic theme of “community,” IC’s summer classes and engagement experiences for new and returning students will be built around nurturing connection during a time when we need it the most.

IC already planned to offer 55 summer session classes. We are now expanding our course offerings for summer 2020 with the intention of supporting our students as they stay on track in the midst of this atypical year—or igniting new intellectual or creative interests.

Because of the college’s strong commitment to academic excellence, accessibility, and inclusion, I am pleased to announce that we are offering summer courses to our returning students and their families for $300 a credit, compared to the previously set cost of $1,088. In dramatically reducing this cost, we hope to engage students this summer in a way that demonstrates the resilience and promise of the IC student experience and the innovative spirit of this institution.

In addition to an expanded menu of courses, our summer programming will also include intellectually rich, problem-solving, and reflective experiences provided in ways that showcase the vibrancy and expertise of our IC community. These no-cost, non-credit opportunities will take the shape of master classes, slow reads, virtual salons, performances and art shows, and special summer institutes, all designed from the ground up as original virtual experiences by our exceptional faculty and our expert staff.

Our unique and inclusive approach to summer programming also extends to our incoming students, as we pave a welcoming path for their transition to Ithaca College. Last week, our enrollment team sent an email to admitted students and their families about these programs, classes, and moments, including specialized no-cost and low-cost courses and a redesigned virtual orientation program that will create a sense of community among first-year students as well as with returning students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

We take very seriously our commitment to be a student-centered institution, and I am so proud of our faculty, staff, and administrators for their creative, ongoing, and nimble response that both centers our students and drives forward the evolution and the promise of the Ithaca College experience. 

As details for our summer programming are finalized, information will be available on ithaca.edu/summer.

Update on Move-Out Plans
Yesterday, students and their families received an email from Student Affairs and Campus Life Vice President Rosanna Ferro which touched upon the ongoing and cooperative efforts between the college and local officials to craft a responsible move-out plan that prioritizes the safety of students, their families, and our Ithaca-area neighbors. 

I appreciate your patience with this process. I know it has been frustrating. Like all institutions, organizations, and businesses in New York State, Ithaca College is required to comply with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order restricting large gatherings and instituting on-site workforce reductions. We are also maintaining our commitment to our local community, and working very closely with the Tompkins County Health Department. Even with our best contingency planning and our highest hopes, we are at the mercy of regulations and processes which are beyond our control.

We remain hopeful that we will be able to offer a firm plan very soon that will enable a phased move-out that is safe and responsible. 

To our students: please join VP Ferro and student affairs and campus life staff for a virtual all-student meeting about move-out and housing selection this afternoon from 12:10 – 1:00 p.m. Students can register to participate in this meeting here.

To all of our students, families, and loved ones: I hope you are continuing to stay safe and well as this public health crisis wears on, and I give you my very best wishes for health and happiness. 

Sincerely,

Shirley M. Collado
President