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Cancelling admitted student events for PhD students?

A philosopher at a leading PhD program writes:

I was wondering whether you might ask on your blog whether any graduate programs are considering cancelling their annual official weekends for visits by prospective graduate students, considering that some experts on the coronavirus are advising against travel so as to reduce the chances for virus transmission. Some programs may be reluctant to cancel but would be more inclined to do so if they knew that other programs were doing so.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, although I bet we'll have more clarity within the week about how necessary such a step is.  What do readers think?

ADDENDUM:  The American Physical Society has cancelled its annual meeting in Denver because of the coronavirus.  (It appears they did so without adequate notice, however.)

ANOTHER:  Just to be clear:  anonymous comments are fine here (I realize no department wants to be the "first mover" on this), but please include a valid e-mail address, which will not appear and will remain confidential.  Thanks.

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5 responses to “Cancelling admitted student events for PhD students?”

  1. Andrew M. Bailey

    My (undergraduate only — so not of *direct* relevance to the question asked — but perhaps useful to know anyways) institution flies in all admitted students to experience life at the college for one weekend. It's an expensive but absolutely vital element of our admissions effort. Due to COVID-19, it is now cancelled this year.

  2. For what it's worth, I'm a grad student at a top 10 department, and we're moving forward with our prospectives' visit as usually—at least for now. (Our university is taking some precautions, of course.)

  3. n response to the continued spread of COVID-19 and to help in the collective effort to slow the rate of its spread, we will not be holding in-person visits for admitted and wait-listed prospective PhD students. We are instead offering online, virtual opportunities for admitted and wait-listed students to meet with faculty and graduate students at our respective programs, aiming to provide prospective students as much information about our programs as we can while following the guidance of public health experts. (Details being arranged directly with each of our admitted and wait-listed students.)

    With wishes of safety and good health to all,

    Columbia Department of Philosophy
    CUNY Department of Philosophy
    NYU Department of Philosophy
    Princeton Department of Philosophy
    Rutgers Department of Philosophy
    Yale Department of Philosophy

  4. As of this afternoon, Pitt has also cancelled its prospective student visit.

  5. MIT has also cancelled their prospectives visit.

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