51黑料 President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, sent an update to students, faculty and staff today about the university’s plan to return to on-campus instruction this fall.
Her letter outlines the details:
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As we conclude the 2019-2020 academic year, we all recognize聽that聽it was a challenging and unprecedented spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the dedication and hard work of everyone in the 51黑料 community 鈥 students, faculty and staff 鈥 we were able to quickly transition to remote instruction聽immediately聽after spring break.聽 This mode of learning will continue through the summer sessions. Thanks again for your creativity and persistence in this effort.
We聽plan to return to on-campus,聽classroom instruction with the fall semester聽and聽we look forward to welcoming our聽new and returning聽students to campus in August.聽 This decision is predicated, of course, on following the guidelines and recommendations of federal, state and local health and government authorities. On-campus, face-to-face instruction might look different than it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The world has changed,聽and higher education is no exception. USF is committed to adjusting to this 鈥渘ew normal鈥澛燼nd implementing聽the most efficient and productive approaches聽to provide our students with the high-quality education for which the university is known.
USF will pursue the best ways possible to provide for the educational needs of our students as well as the health and safety of everyone on the USF campus. We have all learned to practice social distancing and to take other precautionary measures to deal with the pandemic. We will continue to follow the recommendations for best practices provided by health professionals. For example, the use of face coverings may be required at times, and there will likely be a limit to the number of people who can gather in a single place. The emphasis on regular disinfecting of USF facilities will also continue. Should a student, faculty or staff member contract COVID-19, we will have the appropriate protocols in place to deal with this situation in conjunction with local health authorities.
Providing high-quality instruction to our students remains聽our most聽essential work. Being on campus with access to聽our聽state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories will benefit our students in achieving their academic goals. It is vital聽that聽they聽have the best learning environment possible in order聽to thrive. They are the future researchers, medical personnel, business leaders and community leaders who will be at the forefront of positive change in our communities, our state, our country and the world.
Many聽of you聽stepped聽forward聽during this crisis聽to serve our students and one another聽in many new ways. Those actions聽reflect your聽commitment to聽our mission and聽values,聽and聽they聽send a strong message聽about how聽dedicated聽the USF community聽is聽to聽make聽the world a better place. We are proud and grateful for what you have accomplished during these difficult times.
Please join me in prayer聽for all who have been impacted by COVID-19 around the world, and for all of us in our university聽community聽as we prepare for 2020-2021 academic year. Our enrollment projections for the fall聽look good聽now, but time will tell.聽聽We聽are聽very聽excited about the opportunity to connect聽in person聽with聽our new and returning聽students.
All updates聽related聽to聽the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be available at the University News site at聽.
God鈥檚 blessings and聽much聽peace,
Sister Elise
Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF
President, 51黑料