Limited top-optionality practices to be allowed in Random, EC
Students had expressed disappointment with the December 2020 policy announcement and have spoken out in favor of clothing optionality.
Winter welcomes IAP
Temperatures have been fairly cold, but we have not yet experienced a day with temperatures below the climatological average for this time of year.
Housing License Agreements, departure plans, MLK day
Students returning to campus should sign their Housing License Agreements as soon as possible.
Ad hoc faculty committees formed in response to MIT’s Epstein ties release reports
The report from the Committee on Guidelines for Outside Engagements describes the drafting and revision process with an emphasis on community engagement.
Professor Dava Newman named new director of MIT Media Lab
Newman: “Leading the legendary Media Lab — that's a dream job, I think, for anyone. So I actually just consider myself very, very fortunate.”
Pre-registration, IAP, doctoral theses
Pre-registration for spring classes will continue until Jan. 29.
MIT admits 719 Early Action applicants
Along with the 719 students (4.8%) accepted, 10,656 students (70.9%) were deferred to be “reconsidered without prejudice” during the Regular Action admissions process, Peterson wrote.
Lloyd will face ‘a set of disciplinary actions’ that will ‘limit’ his compensation
Schmidt wrote that he arrived at the decision after “conferring with senior administrative and faculty leaders, as well as” a review panel, which sought to determine if “Lloyd violated MIT policies,” and an evaluation committee, which sought to recommend “a set of disciplinary actions.”
Task Force 2021 completes phase one, shares updates
Danheiser and Sarma wrote that Reif, “other Institute leadership, faculty governance, and other key stakeholders” will review the ideas and identify a “prioritized subset” of them to implement.
Cloudy days and stormy nights
After a mostly rainy and cloudy week in Cambridge, we are set to expect more rain on Saturday and another cloudy week ahead.
Two MIT seniors named Rhodes Scholars
Grey-Stewart was named a U.S. Rhodes Scholar. Alshalan was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Saudi Arabia.
Spring housing placements delayed until late December
Housing and Residential Services (HRS) received a “high volume” of spring housing applications and expects that “students’ housing plans may change during the course of the coming weeks.”
Spring grading also under A, B, C, D/NE, and F/NE system
Similar to Fall 2020, all students may choose one subject to be graded PE/NE, and sophomores may designate one subject as Exploratory.
Pre-registration, subject evaluations, finals
The last day of classes is Dec. 9. End-of-term subject evaluations may be completed until 9 a.m. Dec. 14.
A mild Thanksgiving
For those of you who will be going home, note that most of the South and the Midwest will see above-average temperature during the Thanksgiving break.
MIT departments launch DEI initiatives
Dozier said that ”we want to make sure we are honoring our commitments and that relies on transparency.” He adds that students should “continue to help us as an administration on how to best serve MIT.
Students returning to their Spring 2020 dorm given priority in housing placements
Director of House Operations Rich Hilton wrote in a Nov. 6 email to undergraduates that staple groups are “guaranteed placement in the same building together” and “may be formed regardless of class year.”
Spring building placements, Thanksgiving, pre-registration
Building placements for Spring 2021 will be shared with undergraduates Nov. 20. The building switch lottery application will be open Nov. 20–Dec. 10.
IAP grading to be A, B, C, D/NE, F/NE, without PE/NE option
Sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students will receive A, B, C, D/NE, and F/NE grades on Independent Activities Period (IAP) subjects. Unlike in the fall term, students will not be able to have a subject graded on PE/NE.
Boston residents celebrate Biden-Harris victory over Trump
The festivities — which included dancing, tossing around a Trump doll, climbing atop lamp posts and traffic lights, and waving Biden-Harris flags — resulted in a traffic standstill and constant honks from cars surrounding the Common.