Update 6:18.20:
The Alameda County Public Health Department issued an updated shelter-in-place order effective June 19, 2020. This order allows for indoor/outdoor retail, limited religious and cultural ceremonies, outdoor dining, fitness, and museums. The shelter-in-place and social distancing protocols remain in effect. Read the order.
In addition, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered that all Californians must wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings, including when shopping, taking public transit, or seeking medical care. This order takes effect immediately. Read the order (PDF).
Update 6.8.20, 4:26 PM:
Mills continues to adhere to public health guidelines to ensure the safety of Mills students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Based on current restrictions from the State of California, it is anticipated that most fall classes will be online, with some classes offered in a hybrid format. In addition, we will offer some in-person classrooms that will follow social distancing guidelines.
For students who are interested in living on campus, Mills will offer housing for the 2020-21 academic year with modifications. Current students can view the updates to housing and residential life policies (PDF) via the intranet. New students can contact housing@mills.edu for information. Safety measures include changes to policies and practices, including single-room assignments, social-distancing requirements, updated guest policies, and other best practices that will help protect the health of our students and community members.
We will also continue to offer robust student life programs, access to medical and mental healthcare, tutoring and writing services, career advising, and a spectrum of initiatives both in-person and virtually. More details will be announced as soon as possible.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided nearly $12.56 billion in funds to higher education in the form of a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. At least 50% of these funds were to be used to support students. Visit our CARES Act Reporting page for details.
Update 6.8.20:
The Alameda County Public Health Department issued an updated shelter-in-place order that went into effect today to allow some additional businesses to resume operations while maintaining the shelter-in-place and social distancing protocols.
Included in this new order is the requirement that face coverings must be worn at all times by all members of the public, including outdoors while engaged in physical activities (walking, running, biking, etc.) and within 30 feet of people outside of their household.
Effective June 8, 2020, the Health Officer Order to Update the Shelter in Place allows:
*The small outdoor gatherings are permitted for people belonging to the same social bubble. A social bubble is defined as a group of 12 or fewer people from different households
Read the Alameda County Public Health Department 6.5.20 Order (PDF) for detailed information.
Update 5.18.20:
The Alameda County Public Health Department issued updated shelter-in-place orders today to allow some additional businesses to resume operations while maintaining the shelter in place and social distancing protocols.
Businesses that may resume operations at this time include:
Businesses and activities authorized under previous orders may continue.
Public or private gatherings of any size remain prohibited.
Everyone should continue to stay and work at home as much as possible, wear a face covering outside their home, and stay at least six feet away from people outside their household.
Non-essential travel remains prohibited.
Read the Alameda County Public Health Department 5.18.20 Order (PDF) for detailed information.
Update 4.30.20:
The Alameda County Public Health Department has amended the shelter-in-place order of March 31, 2020, and extended the county order until May 31, 2020.
Effective Monday, May 4, 2020, Alameda County has revised the shelter-in-place order (PDF) to allow some key activities to resume, while continuing social distancing protocols and requiring masks/face coverings (PDF) under certain circumstances. Activities that are now allowed, include:
Update 4.18.20:
Effective today, the Alameda County Public Health Department is now requiring that members of the public wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (PDF) in three main settings:
The order does not apply to:
What you need to know about acceptable face coverings:
View the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's tutorials on how to make a face covering and how to wear and clean face coverings (en Español).
Effective Date:
This order is effective immediately and until further notice. Alameda County will begin enforcement efforts at 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
Update 4.15.20:
Nearly a full month since the State of California ordered the shelter in place, the tremendous impact of those orders is clear. So far, we have collectively mitigated the potential harm of COVID-19 through an amazing display of self-distancing discipline and care in our communities. The changes that each of you have made in your daily behavior, combined with decisive state and county action, heroic front-line service providers, and even some good fortune, has made that mitigation possible. The health consequences of the virus are very real and protecting public health must remain at the top of our list of priorities.
The opportunities that lie ahead for Mills include the gradual, and likely uneven, restoration of economic and social activity in California that Governor Gavin Newsom began to describe at his press conference on April 14. Once our region begins to meet the public health conditions the Governor set out, Mills College will continue to protect the health of our community as we resume another version of modified operations.
We are approaching the COVID-19 crisis as an event that may affect us into 2021 and are planning appropriately. Our faculty are already thinking about how to adapt to a new educational climate in the Bay Area and beyond. Mills’ intimate size and expansive campus are valuable assets during a time when social distancing remains essential. We have great faith in the adaptability and creativity of Mills' staff, faculty, and students to meet this moment.
Update 4.6.20:
Mills is observing the following Social Distancing Protocol, as ordered by the Alameda County Department of Health, effective April 2, 2020, until further notice. This protocol is posted at the front entrance to campus and has been communicated to all staff and faculty. Copies are available for anyone granted access to the campus. The campus is currently closed to the public, although essential vendors, deliveries, and guests will be allowed.
The College has put the following procedures in place:
Update 3.20.20:
On Thursday, March 19, Governor Newsom issued a new, statewide executive order that broadens and deepens the shelter-in-place orders issued on Monday, March 16, 2020. As an educational facility that is part of a critical infrastructure sector specified by federal and state law, Mills remains authorized to continue with modified operations.
Mills has already implemented many of the measures required to comply with the new order (PDF). We are now taking the following additional steps:
We expect continued federal and state action in response to COVID-19 and will communicate regularly. Mills is also reaching out to public health authorities in Alameda County and the City of Oakland to support local responses.
Update 3.16.20, 3:15 PM:
As the state of California battles to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials have issued a "shelter in place" order that includes all of Alameda County, including Mills College. We are taking the following steps to implement this order:
We will continue to provide regular updates to keep everyone informed as this situation evolves.
Update 3.12.20, 5:00 PM:
In our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of our students and community members from the coronavirus, we need to follow a new course of action in response to the California Department of Public Health guidelines. With input from our faculty, students, administrators, and staff, we have determined that we will transition to online delivery of all classes for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.
Mills College remains open, but all classes will be canceled on Friday, March 13, and Monday, March 16, to enable the College to move to online classes as expeditiously as possible.
Beginning Tuesday, March 17, ALL courses at Mills will be offered online for the remainder of the spring semester. This includes all lab, studio, and Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (APER) activities. Faculty will offer virtual office hours (and may also offer in-person hours, if possible). Mills will also offer support services to assist students with this transition.
Students, faculty, and staff who live on campus will continue to do so at this time, if they desire. Meals will be served at the Tea Shop, but hours may be subject to change. Please check the MillsGo app, the News Forums, and signage at dining locations for the latest hours. Low-risk, small events (following CDC guidelines) will continue to be held.
We recognize that this is a challenging time for our community. We encourage students to contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 510.430.2111 or Spiritual and Religious Life at 510.430.3123 for help navigating these changes.
Update 3.11.20, 4:00 PM:
In line with other local institutions of higher education and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we are now taking the following preventative actions:
Update 3.6.20, 4:30 PM:
Mills College remains open as we monitor city, state, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports on the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our area. Northern California now has a number of confirmed cases, but as of this writing, no one on the Mills campus has been diagnosed with COVID-19 to our knowledge. While this virus has been reported as mild for many people, preparation is important.
In addition to the precautionary steps we have already taken to increase campus housekeeping, add additional sanitizing stations, and post health education signage across the College, our Incident Response Team initiated planning in the event of any potential disruption to academic or administrative services. Campus leadership is assessing what measures would need to be taken if the virus were to interrupt operations, including:
Remote learning solutions are being evaluated utilizing existing and additional tools such as Blackboard and virtual conferencing tools.
Remote working solutions are being assessed utilizing existing and additional tools such as the Mills VPN and virtual conferencing tools.
Students, faculty, staff, or visitors who exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, and shortness of breath) should not come to the Mills campus. In addition, if someone in your household or someone you have come in contact with is diagnosed with COVID-19, please contact the Alameda County Public Health Department and notify them of your contact. You may have to be isolated for the required number of days, and you will need to be medically cleared before returning to campus. Students will not be penalized for missing class for this reason, and faculty/staff can work with Human Resources on their unique circumstances.
Update 3.3.20, 9:21 AM:
Mills College is open and monitoring city, state, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports on the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our area. We will provide updates to the campus community as they become available.
Mills has taken the following steps to protect the campus community:
Our Office of Admissions continues to accept and process admission applications and all related materials.
Undergraduate Students
We have extended our undergraduate application deadline to July 15, 2020. Students
should visit the undergraduate How to Apply web page for detailed information on submitting application materials, including
transcripts, electronically.
We also encourage you to attend one of our upcoming online information sessions to learn more about our academic programs and the Mills experience.
To speak one-on-one with a Mills admission counselor, undergraduates can book a phone or video consultation using our easy online reservation form. For additional questions, email us at admission@mills.edu or use our form to connect with your admission counselor and send a message to them directly. We'll respond to your email or message in 1–2 business days and look forward to answering your questions.
Graduate Students
Graduate students should visit the graduate How to Apply web page for detailed information on submitting application materials, including
transcripts, electronically.
We also encourage you to attend one of our upcoming online information sessions to learn more about our academic programs and the Mills experience.
To speak with one-on-one with a Mills admission counselor, graduate students should book a phone or video consultation using our easy online reservation form. For additional questions, email us at grad-admission@mills.edu. We'll respond to your email in 1–2 business days and look forward to answering your questions.
Undergraduate Students
We've extended the enrollment deposit deadline to June 1, 2020, for our incoming fall
2020 students. Undergraduate students can visit the After You're Admitted web page for additional information on the enrollment deposit deadline extension.
To speak with a Mills admission counselor, undergraduates can book a phone or video consultation using our easy online reservation form. For additional questions, email us at admission@mills.edu or use our form to connect with your admission counselor and send a message to them directly. We'll respond to your email or message in 1–2 business days and look forward to answering your questions.
Financial aid advising is available via email and virtual appointments, which can be scheduled online. You can also reach Student Accounts via email and virtual appointments.
Graduate Students
Graduate students should check their email for communications regarding the current
enrollment deposit deadline for their specific program.
To speak with a Mills admission counselor, graduate students can book a phone or video consultation using our easy online reservation form. For additional questions, email us at grad-admission@mills.edu. We'll respond to your email or message in 1–2 business days and look forward to answering your questions.
Financial aid advising is available via email and virtual appointments, which can be scheduled online. You can also reach Student Accounts via email and virtual appointments.
We have created pages on the Mills Intranet that can be viewed by your role so you can find the latest information for: students, faculty, and staff.
In response to COVID-19, domestic and international travel is being restricted. Please visit the US Department of State travel advisories web page for current information.
Mills has instituted an interim travel policy for students, faculty, and staff (PDF).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most reliable and up-to-date information on the coronavirus. Here are additional state and local resources:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China in 2019. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
All Mills community members should remember to follow the guidelines provided by the CDC to reduce the risk of infection:
Update: Beginning June 8, 2020, face coverings must be worn at all times by all members of the public, including outdoors while engaged in physical activities (walking, running, biking, etc.) and within 30 feet of people outside of their household.
Previously (April 18, 2020), the Alameda County Public Health Department required that members of the public wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (PDF) in three main settings:
The order provides limited exceptions to the face covering requirements for people such as young children and those who are unable to remove a face covering without assistance.
View the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's tutorial on how to make, wear, and clean face coverings (en Español). According to the CDC, it is critical to maintain six feet of social distance even when wearing a face covering. Face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing.
Patients with COVID-19 have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of the senses of taste or smell. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms.
Students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact the Vera Whole Health Center, located in CPM 117, by calling 510.671.3985 or call your primary care provider. If you have recently traveled to or been in contact with someone from an infected area, please let the medical provider know so they can determine if an assessment or treatment is needed.
If you are ill, do not attempt to drive yourself to seek medical care; instead call the on-duty staff about support to get you transported via Mills College Public Safety. If this is a life-threatening emergency, please call Oakland Emergency Medical Services (911) or Mills Public Safety at 510.430.5555.
Per the Centers for Disease Control, social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. The goal of social distancing at this time is to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus and stop the spread of the disease to protect the public health.
No, the Grand Princess cruise ship disembarked under strict security miles away from the Mills College campus. NO passengers from the ship were quarantined in Oakland or released into the general public.
Mills students, faculty, and staff can visit our COVID-19 information pages for previous communications and FAQs. If you have additional specific COVID-19 questions, email questions@mills.edu.