Dear Students,

We know that President McRobbie’s message from this evening raises questions, even as it answers others. We recognize that you have questions about having online courses for the rest of the semester, final exams, graduation, and what the extension of spring break will mean, to list just a few. I know some of you are in campus housing and have questions about that announcement, too. Lack of clarity over what steps states and the U.S. government will take related to travel bans and social distancing only adds to the uncertainty.

We know this uncertainty is difficult; it is for us, too. We will get more detailed information to you as quickly as we can. All deans and vice provosts for IU Bloomington are meeting tomorrow morning and will continue to meet every day. I am also meeting with senior leadership of the law school tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow evening, I’m holding a conference call with deans at other Big 10 law schools with the purpose of sharing responses to the rapidly changing situation, as many of their universities have enacted similar measures. In all these discussions, our first priority is public health and student safety.

I am writing now to let you know that we will have more information out to you as soon as we can. Give us a little time tonight and tomorrow to work on plans in light of President McRobbie’s announcements this evening. Once we get more information out to you, if you still have concerns, or if there are issues that you have not seen addressed, please reach out so that we can attend to them.

Please take care, and, if you’re traveling over the break, please be safe.

Best wishes,
Austen Parrish