Dear Admitted Students,
Congratulations on your recent acceptance to the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University!
Given the rapidly evolving issues about COVID-19, I wished to write and confirm that the Friedman School is actively continuing its educational, research, and public impact activities, now through the end of Spring semester, in our summer teaching, and in the Fall when we welcome you for matriculation.
Like many universities and businesses, we have now shifted our teaching, research, and service to online and virtual activities to help with our national effort to mitigate COVID-19. Fortunately, the Friedman School has been well prepared for this transition, based on our existing well-regarded and well-established online programs, the experience of many of our faculty in virtual teaching and content delivery, and the tremendous strengths and resources of Tufts University for such efforts. We are confident that our students continue to feel well connected to their courses, instructors, and each other, with minimal negative impact on overall learning.
This coming Fall, we are committed to welcoming you and providing our high-quality and personalized teaching through a combination of virtual, hybrid, and residence teaching as appropriate. We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation around COVID-19, and will continue to develop our teaching systems for the Fall accordingly.
We recognize that travel restrictions could limit the ability of some international or even domestic students to arrive in person at the start of Fall. If so, we will ensure you are still able to matriculate, meet your advisor and classmates, and choose and enroll in your courses virtually, until this crisis passes. You can feel confident your experience will remain excellent.
In the interim, our Office of Student Affairs is ready and available to answer any questions you may have and provide appropriate assistance. Regular working hours are being maintained, and you are welcome to reach out to our staff and faculty with any questions. Also look for regular communications from our faculty, current students, and staff over the coming weeks. We will continue to provide updates and share resources to help you be prepared for the Fall and your academic program.
Since the Friedman School’s founding 41 years ago, one of our hallmarks has been our strong community, characterized by collegiality, collaboration, and commitment. These characteristics will help ensure we continue to rise to meet the challenges ahead.
Whether related to issues of hunger and food security, nutrition and the immune system, or supply chain disruptions and innovation, nutrition science and policy are as vital and timely today as they have been at any point in human history.
Our current and future students are the next generation of leaders who will discover the answers to pressing scientific questions, design and implement programs and policies to improve population health, create a more sustainable food system, establish fairness and equity in access to resources, and craft innovations for the future.
I welcome you, our newest Class, to the Friedman School, and look forward to the tremendous work and successes we will achieve together.
Regards,
Dariush (Dary) Mozaffarian, MD DrPH
Dean
Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University
Professor of Medicine, Tufts School of Medicine and Division of Cardiology, Tufts Medical Center
@DMozaffarian
Editor-in-Chief, Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter