Opportunities for the Class of 2024

Dear Class of 2024 and families,

We are writing to share some important updates specific to your class and to invite your input and ideas as we continue our planning for your class experience in the coming academic year.

The Class of 2024 has borne a particularly heavy burden in terms of disappointment and unwelcome change during this pandemic — most of all, perhaps, the change in our plans that prevented your class from being together on campus this winter quarter. We understand, in particular, the timing of the announcement had a significant impact on each of you and that an earlier decision would have been much better.

We are committed to working with you to create opportunities for community and connection. Following a very productive discussion last week with your Frosh Council, we are happy to share the first set of actions we’re going to undertake to foster a positive campus experience for your class:

• With the enthusiastic endorsement of the Frosh Council, we are thrilled to announce that we will offer all-sophomore residences in a variety of locations from East to West Campus, so sophomores can be together and also be near students from all classes. We are thinking a lot about how to rebuild a strong sense of community among all of our undergraduates. More information is coming soon.
• We will also create a special Sophomore Welcome prior to the start of the fall quarter, as well as ongoing sophomore-specific programming throughout the quarter and year. We look forward to planning these events in collaboration with members of your class.
• We believe that many of the unforgettable traditions that normally occur on campus during frosh year — for example, Frosh Formal, scavenger hunt, and a few more activities that are surprises for the frosh class each year — can be reprised in a unique way just for you as sophomores next year.
• We are designing a virtual experience for frosh for this winter and spring, to provide opportunities similar to the programming that normally happens in dorms. More details are coming soon.
• Your class, along with our current sophomores, will have priority for living on campus during the summer quarter, and we will prioritize summer course offerings that meet a broad range of frosh and sophomore course needs.
• Whether you are on or off campus, summer quarter features many opportunities, including funded research, service fellowships and internships for students who have been enrolled for at least two quarters and have a Flex Term available. There’s still time to apply, as deadlines for a good number of these opportunities are in the winter and spring quarters.

There are many details in all of these plans that need your creative input, and there are more plans that are under development. We have follow-up meetings already scheduled with the Frosh Council, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with them. We also welcome your input to us directly here.

As we continue through these challenging times together, we invite you to join us in planning for a bright future.

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

The vision and enthusiasm that we experienced working with the Frosh Council last week gives us tremendous confidence that our shared commitment to your future at Stanford will make great things happen.

Sincerely,

Susie Brubaker-Cole
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Sarah Church
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Shirley Everett
Senior Associate Vice Provost of Residential and Dining Enterprises

Mona Hicks
Senior Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students