June 11, 2020

 

To: Incoming Graduate Students Directors of Graduate Studies, Program Directors, Program Administrators

 

Welcome again to the Laney Graduate School!

 

If you are using your Emory email, you have just received a Laney Graduate School message announcing plans for the fall term; if you are not, you can find it here.  The academic calendar will shift to start on August 19, with classes ending by Thanksgiving and exams conducted remotely.

 

We look forward to welcoming you to Emory in August.  Programs will offer both in-person and online courses this fall.  In addition to courses, other educational activities in your program may involve both in-person participation and virtual participation. 

• New student activities start on August 10. 
  • LGS new student activities will be fully online (dates and details are below). 
  • Program orientation activities may include in-person activities.
• Classes start on August 19.
• PhD students: the in-person component of the Form I-9 Section 2 process must be completed no later than August 19. You will receive detailed instructions in a separate email.

Please monitor our New Student Information web page. It will have answers to FAQs and will be updated with the latest information.

 

New Student Orientation and Activities

 

New Student Guide and Pre-Orientation
Before the new student activities begin, you can access LGS orientation materials online, through the Canvas learning platform and other Emory systems. Access to Canvas is available using your Emory NetID and password. The 2020 New Student Orientation site will open on Monday, June 29. At that time, you may begin the required LGS Orientation modules.

 

Financial Support
Your terms of support, described in your admissions offer letter, will remain unchanged.  PhD students receiving stipend support will receive detailed instructions from their program about how to complete the Form I-9 process.  The in-person component of the Form I-9 Section 2 must be completed by August 19.

 

Deferral Options
We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the lives and plans of our newly admitted students. Many of those disruptions include delayed educational progress, illness, suspension of visa services, and the inability to move to Atlanta by the 2020-2021 academic year in August 2020.

 

To provide the time and flexibility to address such challenges, LGS is allowing students who accepted an offer of admission for fall 2020 to defer enrollment to fall 2021. Visit our deferred enrollment page for more information about deferred enrollment. Students considering this option should consult with their programs to help determine their best decision.  Please submit your request by July 15, 2020.

 

Health and Safety
Finally, we all must acknowledge our shared responsibility for the collective health and well-being of our community and commit to doing our part to comply with University guidance and protocols around campus safety, social distancing, and health monitoring.
 
Thank you again for choosing Emory. Please check your Emory email frequently. We will send additional information in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, if you have questions, please reply to this email.

 

We hope this email finds you safe and healthy where you are, connected to loved ones and in good spirits.  We look forward to connecting with you in August, for the start of your graduate program.

 

---  LGS Admissions