Dear Students and Families,
Last week, the The University of Olivet community took part in a virtual honors week, baccalaureate and graduation celebration. The week-long celebration will be a memorable one for me, not because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but because of how you chose to face this crisis: you faced it head-on. Every day I am reminded of what makes The University of Olivet so special – it’s you.
On behalf of the entire The University of Olivet community: We cannot wait to see you back on campus this fall! That is our goal; that is what we are working toward. That is what our faculty and staff talk most about, being back on campus with the students they love.
We are thrilled that returning students have registered for classes, signed up for housing and are continuing to stay engaged with faculty, staff and classmates. We are also pleased to see daily so many high school graduates choosing to attend The University of Olivet and eager to begin their college experience this fall. Our The University of Olivet family is strong!
Our #1 Goal: To Safely Reopen Campus for the Fall Semester
Will campus be open in August for the fall semester? That is exactly what we are working toward – a safe return to campus. We will do everything in our power to open campus this August and welcome you home to The University of Olivet. While we must prepare for other scenarios as well, our primary goal is to return to campus for the fall semester safely.
Ensuring Your Health and Safety
How will the College ensure the health and safety of students? Until there is a vaccine, few places in the world will be coronavirus-free. To open the campus, however, we do need to be coronavirus-safe – and that is the main focus of the comprehensive plan the College is presently working on. The health and safety of the The University of Olivet family are top of mind in all of our planning. We also recognize that some faculty, staff and students will not be able to return until the coronavirus threat is gone; we’ll be prepared to accommodate you too, remotely if need be.
Comprehensive Planning
We will face continued uncertainty as the pandemic continues and the College is preparing to face whatever challenges come our way. I have charged numerous working teams across the College to develop a comprehensive plan for the fall semester, and that includes how to safely bring students back to campus for the residential college experience you desire and deserve. Working groups include not only our faculty and staff, but we are also working with the Barry Eaton District Health Department, other respected medical professionals and other independent colleges across the state of Michigan. These plans are still in development, and we’ll share the details as they become available in the weeks between now and the fall semester.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact members of the The University of Olivet family deeply. If we are able to do just one thing at this time, it is my hope that The University of Olivet gives you confidence in your future. Will we return to the same campus environment that we left in March? No. Will we return to a family of faculty, staff and classmates that support, love, encourage and look out for us? Absolutely.
I’ll be back. I’m looking forward to you being back, too.
See you soon!
Steven M. Corey, Ph.D.
President
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