President Andrew Hsu sent the following message to the College of Charleston community on July 1, 2020:
Dear Campus Community:
I am writing to share with you Back on the Bricks, the College’s comprehensive plan to resume in-person instruction for the fall semester.
As you look through the plan, you will see that every decision and directive made, including the structure of the academic calendar and limitations on travel, were data-driven, based on science and current health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Of course, there are many unknowns. But no matter what, student and employee safety is our number one priority. College leadership is closely monitoring the changing circumstances surrounding the spread of COVID-19 in South Carolina and in Charleston County. While we continue to prepare for the resumption of in-person classes in the fall, we are also making contingency plans and will adjust if conditions worsen.
Regardless, the College of Charleston’s commitment to our academic mission is unwavering. We will continue to deliver a high-quality education and student life experience and provide a collegial environment in which every student and employee feels safe, valued, heard and supported. The College will ensure that students, faculty and staff are supported in their studies and in their work. From technology and facilities to academic and residential support to physical and emotional support, every member of campus will be made aware of and have access to the services and resources they need to be successful.
For faculty/staff and students/families with any questions, I encourage you to participate in the next virtual town hall meeting, scheduled for Thursday, July 2.
Virtual Town Halls (Thursday, July 2, 2020)
As done previously, this virtual town hall will be conducted using Microsoft Teams Live Event video conferencing technology. Attendees can watch the event online and submit questions using the program’s Q&A feature.
- Faculty/Staff: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. (EST), Thursday, July 2, 2020 https://go.cofc.edu/faculty-staff-virtual-town-hall (CofC credentials required)
- Students/Families: 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. (EST), Thursday, July 2, 2020 https://go.cofc.edu/student-parents-virtual-town-hall (No login required)
In closing, I am asking everyone to be a part of our shared solution. That means leading by example (e.g., wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing) and encouraging other members of campus to monitor their own actions. While we will educate our community about best practices and enforce guidelines, we will never ostracize or stigmatize others. By our shared commitment, we will normalize and model the behaviors we seek of our greater campus community.
As many of you well know, the Cougar community is one big family that spans generations and knows no geographic boundaries. We are truly in this together, and we need to rely on one another to get through this. And we will.
Sincerely,
Andrew
Andrew T. Hsu, Ph.D.
President, College of Charleston