We look forward to welcoming you back to a new academic year at Mills College. During the last several months, all of our lives have been impacted by the coronavirus, and we have had to adapt to a constantly changing reality. At Mills, we have taken this as a creative challenge and have worked to develop new ways of delivering a Mills education, while maintaining the academic quality that students deserve. We will all share the responsibility of protecting our health with new behaviors. The fall 2020 semester may take a different form, but our commitment to providing the best educational experience possible remains unchanged.
What You Can Expect
Updated July 27, 2020 to reflect new public health guidelines:
Classes Will be Primarily Online
Select In-Person Academic Experiences May be Offered
Classes Begin Wednesday, August 26, 2020
As the State of California and Alameda County experience surges in coronavirus cases, Mills must adjust our fall reopening plans to offer the majority of classes online in response to public health guidelines. Here is an outline of our updated re-opening plan:
- The majority of fall classes will be online. Hybrid A and B class formats will no longer be offered.
- We hope to be able to offer limited in-person learning opportunities in programs that do not translate into an online environment while following specific guidelines and social distancing requirements. Note: we are awaiting State of California guidelines for higher education that may impact this direction.
- Our class search tool is being updated to reflect current information about individual classes and how they will be taught (look in the notes section).
- To help students access remote learning more effectively, Mills has created an initiative which allows students to borrow or purchase an iPad at a 50% discount.
- A limited number of students will live on campus, if public health guidelines allow.
- Student life programming/experiences will be offered virtually to connect you with your peers and offer intellectual, cultural, and social interactions.
Please check this page frequently as public health orders and restrictions are subject to change.
What You Need to Know
Health & Safety Guidelines
As we respond to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on our health, Mills has developed guidelines to be followed by everyone on campus. These measures ensure that we are adhering to public health mandates to mitigate the spread of the virus. As the healthcare situation evolves, we will adjust our policies and practices to protect our community. Please visit our health and safety guidelines page for details.
Anyone over the age of two must wear a face covering or mask as mandated by the State of California and Alameda County. The mask should cover your nose and mouth and be worn any time you are within six feet of someone else. Wearing a mask minimizes the chance of you and others spreading COVID-19.
Keep a minimum of six feet (about two arms' length) between yourself and others following social distancing guidelines. This physical distance helps stop the spread of the virus and minimizes the risk to everyone at Mills.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer made with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not immediately available.
Mills has instituted stringent cleaning procedures and protocols across campus to protect all members of the community and official visitors. Please protect your environment and your health by following all cleaning requirements.
Every member of the Mills community and official visitors are asked to perform a daily wellness check to determine if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms before coming on to campus/leaving a residence hall.
If you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home or in your residence hall and seek medical assistance/diagnosis. You may need to quarantine for up to 14 days to ensure that you do not infect others.
We encourage you to get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. Students may contact the Vera Whole Health Center to be tested. Others may access any convenient testing location that offers free COVID-19 tests.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please contact the Division of Student Life if you are a student and immediately quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, following all Mills health and safety guidelines. Employees should contact their supervisors and quarantine at home.
COVID-19 News Updates
Update 7.27.20:
In light of updated State of California and Alameda County public health orders, Mills has shifted its fall 2020 instruction plans so that nearly all academic courses—including many classes that would have been taught in hybrid or in-person mode—will be offered entirely online. Read the news story.
CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) established a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to assist higher education institutions and enrolled students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current Mills students are eligible to apply for these emergency grants at the beginning of the fall semester. As a participant in this program, Mills reports how funds have been distributed every 45 days at: CARES Act reporting.
Questions?
If you have additional specific COVID-19 questions that are not addressed on these web pages, contact us at questions@mills.edu.