April 28
Yoshiaki Terumichi
President, Sophia University


Dear students and guarantors,

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in the research and education activities at Sophia University. I would also like to extend my sympathies to all of you who are struggling every day with the challenges brought by the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On behalf of Sophia University, I would like to offer an explanation of the measures that Sophia University will take in response to the novel coronavirus.

1. Financial support for continuation of study

At Sophia University, we prioritize providing support to students who are challenged with financial difficulties in continuing their academic pursuits as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, Sophia School Corporation will allocate 500 million yen for financial support measures, in addition to the support measures we have implemented for setting up the ICT environment required to take online classes. It is based on our renewed determination to return to our educational spirit “Men and Women for Others, with Others.”

2. Support for taking online classes

We have decided to offer all classes online during the Spring Semester of the 2020 academic year. Please understand that this decision was made in order to secure the safety of all of our students, which is our most important concern. It will be a new endeavor for Sophia University; and therefore we have decided to begin classes on May 25 to allow sufficient time for careful preparations to deliver high-quality online education.

Currently, faculty and staff are working closely together in class preparation, reviewing syllabi, enhancing our ICT system and infrastructure, and developing new class materials and methods.

We are sincerely grateful for the support that each family has provided in setting up an ICT environment at home so that students can take online classes while the university facilities are closed. The university has already taken measures to offer free rental services of portable Wifi hotspots and laptops to those who are facing financial difficulties in preparing for classes, and will continue to do our best in providing support where it is needed.

3. Student life support, including financial support

We understand that as a result of the spread of the novel coronavirus, some students are challenged with financial difficulties in continuing their studies at Sophia University. In addition to our conventional scholarship programs, we are considering increased support for students who are facing sudden changes in household finances and the introduction of an emergency program for student support. We will announce the details as soon as they have been decided. We will take every measure possible so that all of our students do not have to give up their academic pursuit at Sophia University.

4．Tuition and fees

Although it will be difficult to offer face-to-face classes for a while, we believe that our mission at Sophia University is to offer unchanged high-quality education online.

The tuition and other student fees that we receive from you are used for the development and delivery of diverse educational programs and for the enhancement of our research and education environment through improving, maintaining and managing our campus and facilities, with a view to guiding our students through their pursuit of a degree. Therefore, we have no plan to uniformly return or reduce our Tuition fees or Education Enhancement fees. However, should students have difficulties in paying the fees before the deadline, please consult with the university. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Although we have yet to see an end to the social confusion caused by the pandemic, we would like to take this opportunity to think with our students the significance of being challenged with this global crisis that the world must overcome in unity.

I sincerely wish for the health of you and your families and supporters. I look very much forward to the day when I can meet you on campus.

Spring Semester Start Date and the Shift to Online

Spring Semester classes will begin on May 25. Sophia University will ensure that every student will be provided with the necessary study time and course plans to have a smooth path to graduation. In addition, each department will gradually release information about online classes and assignments prior to the beginning of classes. We are also looking to improve the services offered by the library such as increasing the number of e-books to support learning and research activities.

Please check the “Online Classes” section of Loyola for answers to frequently asked questions and information regarding equipment required for online classes. Sophia University is also offering portable Wifi hotspot rental and laptop rental for Sophia students that are unable to prepare equipment for online classes due to sudden financial difficulties.

Related Pages:

• A Request to Prepare for Online Classes
• Laptop rental for current Sophia students

Student Support

We are fully supporting students through various approaches as listed below.

Financial Assistance

• Scholarships for students with financial need due to sudden changes in household income
• New emergency financial support for students with problems studying due to reduced income from part-time employment
• Tuition deferral

We are available anytime for consultations regarding sudden changes in household income. Additional financial support systems will be posted on the university webpage and Loyola as they are decided.

Career Support

The Career Center is offering online career services including web-based programs and online career consulting sessions.

Mental Health Support

The Counseling Center provides helpful advice to help deal with stress or any social concerns. In addition, counseling via telephone is available for current students (Reservation required).

Contact Information:

• Scholarships and Financial Aid
   Center for Student Affairs / Financial Aid:   scholarship-co@sophia.ac.jp
• Tuition
   https://www.sophia.ac.jp/jpn/form/sophia03.html
• Career Center
   Phone: 03-3238-3581 / E-Mail: career-co@sophia.ac.jp
  
• Counseling Center
   TEL: 03-3238-3559 (Weekdays, 10:00a.m.-12:00noon, 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m.)
   ∗Reservation required for counseling via telephone

Up to date information for Sophia University’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found at the page below.
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/news/2019/2019_e_coronavirus.html