Dear Students and Families:
Thank you for your patience as the college sorts through the many unfortunate impacts COVID-19 has had on all of us. From focusing on protecting the health and safety of our community to the change in delivery of our world-class academic program and its impact on our operation, this has been a challenging few weeks—but not just for us. We recognize that all of you are also working through many difficult decisions and situations during this health emergency, all of which are out of your control.
Many of our shared challenges are caused by the current loss of Millsaps’ exceptional residential experience. While the decision to continue the academic program and ensure the completion of your credit hours by remote instruction through the rest of the semester was the right one for the health and welfare of our community, it impacts us all. The college will be providing students with prorated refunds for the on-campus housing and meal costs that were no longer viable when students were asked to not return to campus because of COVID-19. Details to how these refunds will work, how institutional financial aid will be impacted and when you can expect to see the refund on your account may be found here.
On the academic side, Provost Keith Dunn has communicated with students regarding several important decisions made by the Academic Council for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester that will reduce some of the burdens and anxieties of the present time. Some of these include suspension of comprehensive exams, extension of the opportunity for students to withdraw through the last day of classes, and allowing the credit/no credit option, including allowing students to see final grades before making this decision.
We realize that even with these refunds for residential students and academic concessions for all students, you are still facing difficult days ahead. While our educational product remains effective in its remote delivery under these current circumstances, we all look forward to the return of our on-campus experience and the warmth of personal interactions that are hallmarks of the Millsaps experience. We appreciate your understanding and join you in praying that our nation and world are soon back to more normal circumstances.
Stay well.
Rob Pearigen
