The following is text from the email I received Tuesday, 3/24/2020, at 5:29 PM:
Dear Treasured Alumni and Donors:
We certainly live in unprecedented times as COVID-19 has changed our spring semester plans dramatically. Thankfully, Catherine McAuley, the Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, gave us wonderful words to live by in weeks like these, “A community in which universal charity reigns, is capable of surmounting all difficulties.” We continue to walk in unity and charity with one another, knowing that all faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Mount Mercy are in this together! As we navigate uncharted territory, I thought you would appreciate a report on how Mount Mercy is faring. First and foremost, I’d like to direct you to our coronavirus website mtmercy.edu/coronavirus for all the latest updates and student/employee Q and A’s. We began sending regular messages on February 14, changing to daily messages on March 11, and you’ll find them all posted. Most questions fielded by the Pandemic Response Team have been answered within those Q and A’s. Our faculty have taken on the task of moving to entirely online instruction for the remainder of the semester with gusto. For some, of course, online instruction is part of their everyday life – in fact, US News and World Report ranked Mount Mercy the #1 online educational institution in the state this winter. For others, the move to an online delivery system began from scratch and has been a major accomplishment in a very small period of time. Our faculty, staff and students have been incredibly united in their desire to finish the semester strong, from a distance, and with top academic quality. The link to my ‘welcome back from spring break’ video distributed yesterday can be found here. By April 5, residence status will be limited to special circumstances (no internet access for course completion, housing/food insecure, travel restrictions, international and distant students) and we have begun “to-go” service in the cafeteria. All sports, music and other activities have been canceled. We are having only virtual gatherings between now and the end of the school year. Campus ministry is keeping the food pantry open as long as it is physically possible with social distancing for students in need. The Olson Clinic has moved to a telehealth operation for students requiring counseling. Of course, we continue to communicate with and follow the direction of the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Iowa, and Linn County Public Health regarding the coronavirus. I can guarantee that we will continue to change our operation in concert with our health officials, and those changes will be reflected in our daily communication with students and employees and in the Q and A section of the website. Our incredible Sisters of Mercy are safe and sound at the convent but no visitors are allowed at this point, and Mass has been canceled for the foreseeable future. We are finding ways to be involved in our mission and faith without our usual relationships and practices. Many have asked how they can help during this difficult and confusing time. Prayers for our students, faculty, staff and alumni (especially our many health care providers) would be most beneficial. You can find “A Prayer During Times of a Pandemic,” which we are praying across campus, on our coronavirus website. We are considering how best to assist our most vulnerable students, honor our seniors (many who were unable to participate in national championships, or participate in all the special events of senior year), and support our many nontraditional students who have lost jobs in the economic downturn. We will have more information about how you can join us in that effort at Alumni Reunion Weekend this fall. In the meantime, we’d love for you to send prospective students (undergraduate, graduate and online students) to our virtual visit days and admission events. Also, please watch for ways to support the Mount Mercy Fund which is more important now than ever! Catherine McAuley wrote the following to Frances Warde in 1838, and it seems apropos today – “The comfort comes soon after a well-received trial.” During times like these we are humbled to witness the compassion and unity that our community displays daily to one another and look forward to the truly good days ahead. We are grateful that you are part of our community and thank you for your strong support for Mount Mercy, its students and employees, over many years. Stay well and we will be in touch. Laurie Hamen President |
No comments:
Post a Comment