As alums and future alums, we are writing on behalf of S, an immunosuppressed student who cannot safely return to campus this fall. S has been requesting remote accommodations for months, but has been tangled in bureaucracy and received no meaningful response beyond “Come back to campus or take a leave of absence.”

This is not an acceptable response. The accommodations S is requesting are minimal and have already been agreed-to by several professors, but the college itself is not offering any options this fall aside from in-person, on-campus attendance. 

It is Smith’s legal responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations for documented medical needs, but beyond that, it is Smith’s moral duty to fully include all members of its community. This past year has shown that it is possible to receive a Smith education while attending remotely. The story Smith tells us is one of opening doors and providing quality educational opportunities to students who might not otherwise have been able to access them. The Smith we believe in does not force students to choose between high risk of death and discontinuing their education. 

We call upon you to act immediately to provide remote options for S and any other students in the same situation.

Thank you.