Family Memo – Fall 2020

prairie cairn sculpture in the grass outside of CERA field station

Greetings, Grinnell Families

This newsletter is designed to provide the families of students with important information and a look at life as a Grinnellian. In this issue, you'll find important dates and deadlines and information about student health and wellness, financial aid, and more.

Campus Update: Fall Term 2

The College has decided to continue with remote instruction and a very low-density campus for the second fall term (Oct. 29 - Dec. 22). We are disappointed that we will not be able to host the third-year class in Fall Term 2; we will, however, have a very small number of mid-year graduates on campus. As we continue to navigate this global health issue, our decisions for the fall are informed by data and scientific research and rooted in deep care and concern about both individual and community health and well-being.

Our publicly available COVID-19 dashboard continues to aggregate local, regional, and state data related to COVID-19. Visit the students and families resources page on the College website for more information about the College's COVID-19 response.

Weekly updates from Grinnell's testing clinic are available on the College website.

THRIVE: Principles for a Thriving Campus Climate

While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways, the mission and core values of Grinnell College remain strong and intact. The T.H.R.I.V.E. principles provide guidelines for our campus community to navigate this new landscape with attention to well-being, empathy, and wise, thoughtful decision-making:

Talk to improve transparency.

Health and safety must remain a top priority for our entire campus community.

Re-imagine and reconsider what is possible and necessary.

Inclusion requires flexibility.

Value all experiences of vulnerability.

Empathy requires all of us — and especially leaders — to be aware, sensitive, and responsive.

Learn more about the T.H.R.I.V.E. principles on the website.

Need-Based Financial Aid Application Process for 2021-22

Current Grinnell students and their parents may now apply for financial aid for the 2021-22 school year.

Complete the following forms:

2021-22 Grinnell College online financial aid application
This form is completed by the student and requires a login.

2021-22 FAFSA on the web
Note: 2019 income tax information will be used for 2021-22. When possible, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

More information may be found at the College's returning students' financial aid page.

Title IX Update

Earlier this year the United States Department of Education released final rules regarding the enforcement of Title IX. Grinnell College has since published its updated Title IX policies to reflect these changes.

While the final Title IX rules required changes to campus processes for investigation and resolution, the rules still allow the College the discretion to continue to respond to the needs of our students, staff, and faculty in a manner consistent with our institutional values. Grinnell College is committed to providing a learning, living, and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, including discrimination on the basis of sex or gender.

Most importantly, despite changes in Title IX jurisdiction and the Title IX definition of sexual harassment, the College will continue to prohibit all of the same forms of sexual misconduct and interpersonal violence as under prior policy. The College will also continue to provide supportive measures available to anyone in our college community. Additional information about Title IX, campus resources and policy options is available on the College website.

Feedback about the policy changes or questions about the Title IX regulations can be directed to Bailey Asberry, Title IX Coordinator.

Nominate a Social Justice Innovator for the Grinnell Prize

The Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize honors individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields and who show creativity, commitment, and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change. Alexander McLean, founder and Director General of Justice Defenders has been selected as the 2020 Grinnell Prize winner. Read more about McLean and Justice Defenders.

Do you know of someone who deserves recognition for their outstanding commitment to social justice? Nominate them for the 2021 Grinnell College Innovator in Social Justice Prize. Nominations are open to both U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries; individuals and organizations engaged in anti-racist work are strongly encouraged to apply. Nominations are due on Oct. 31, 2020.

Grinnell Students Team Up to Gauge COVID-19 Risk

When Gyan Prayaga ’21 and Jeev Prayaga ’22 learned about a data science competition designed to help their hometown, Los Angeles, reopen safely during the coronavirus pandemic, they formed a team with their parents, Rena Brar Prayaga and Ram Prayaga. Together, they used data science to create a risk calculator for Los Angeles citizens. Their solution was named “best application” and they have been invited to speak at the IM Data virtual conference in November. Read more about the Prayaga family's efforts to help gauge risk in their community.

Featured Family Donors: Sunita Verma and Ted Bucklin Pitch In

Sunita Verma and Ted Bucklin have always been involved in their kids’ athletic and academic careers. With their son Shiva Bucklin ’22 on the Grinnell baseball team, they have become an enthusiastic part of the parent-support network, helping organize meals, events, and community. But their support has extended beyond the field with a recent donation to the Supporting Our Students (SOS) Technology Fund to supply laptops and hotspots to students. When the College switched to remote learning because of the pandemic, a number of students were concerned about having the technology at home to access online classes. Donations to the SOS Fund from people like Sunita and Ted have helped resolve those problems.

Catch Up With the All Things Grinnell Podcast: Season 3

Tune into the latest episodes of the All Things Grinnell podcast, The Artist's Scalpel, with artist Jean-Ulrick Désert, about the power and responsibility of art in response to racism and other forms of hatred. Désert uses common and recognizable objects from everyday life, but presents them with a poetic twist meant to interrupt expectations – and to create space for dialogue in the place of discomfort.

All Things Grinnell, hosted by Ben Binversie '17, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support the Grinnell Experience

Parents and families play an integral role in supporting and enhancing their students' experiences. We invite you to join in the stewardship efforts that sustain a distinctive Grinnell education. Learn more here.

Gifts to the Pioneer Fund help Grinnell provide the activities, clubs, organizations, service opportunities and much more that create the signature Grinnell community experience.

Start your journey along the Arc of Giving by supporting Grinnell with a gift today.

Keeping up with the Grinnellians

Keep up with what's happening in the Grinnell universe by following Grinnell's Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook accounts.

To stay in touch with what's happening on campus, you can also view the school newspaper, the Scarlet and Black, online, listen to the podcast, All Things Grinnell, and read The Grinnell Magazine.

Stay in Touch with the Center for Careers, Life, and Service

Stay connected and find out more about how the College's Center for Careers, Life, and Service empowers students and alumni to live, learn, and work with meaning and purpose:

Follow the CLS on Facebook and Instagram
Watch CLS videos on YouTube
Find virtual events, workshops, and learning opportunities on the Grinnell College Calendar – search “Center for Careers, Life, and Service”

Read this story about how the Center for Careers, Life, and Service helped keep summer internships available to students.

Additional Family Resources

For more information and resources, visit the College's Families webpage, the Center for Careers, Life, and Service's Information and Resources for Parents and Families webpage, or reach out to Tina Popson '97, associate director of the Parents and Families Program within the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

STAY CONNECTED: