Good afternoon students, faculty, and staff,

Today we are announcing the transition from all classroom-based instruction to alternative/distance formats at Saint Joseph’s College, for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester. This means that the last in-person classes will take place on Tuesday, March 17th, and only distance learning will be offered starting Wednesday, March 18th. Students in clinical/field placements should consult with their faculty with regards to what this transition means to them.

Our faculty have been preparing for this eventuality for several weeks and are ready to support you in finishing your Spring coursework at a distance. The faculty teaching your courses will be in touch with you this coming week to explain the details of the transition, and how your specific courses will operate once this change occurs.

Students and their families should begin the process of deciding their best path forward that takes into account their individual needs. While we are taking appropriate precautions to make our campus as safe as possible for all campus constituents, we are allowing current resident students to make the decision to stay on-campus. In addition to the link below, all resident students will receive a communication from our Residential Living staff outlining a process to guide your transition.

Some of our students may need to remain on campus because of specialized field work and clinical placements. Other students may wish to remain on campus due to campus-based or other area employment. And still others may choose to remain on campus if that option feels safer for them, instead of traveling to areas that have seen wider outbreaks of coronavirus.

Whether you decide to remain in residence or not, all instruction is moving to a distance format starting next Wednesday.

This transition will impact different members of our community in different ways, but it will also be an orderly shift that honors our values and our strengths as a community. Above all, we are committed to helping our students complete their education this semester.

In order to minimize possible transmission scenarios, students who decide to move off campus will not be permitted to return for the remainder of the Spring Semester. If you decide to remain on campus, you will need to fill out a Housing Request Form. Once you do, the appropriate member of our staff will reach out to you. Alongside discussions with their professors, students should also check in with their on-campus employer to determine possible accommodations for continued student work.

Campus will remain open. The Learning Commons, Health and Wellness Center, Counseling Center staff, and other offices will all be available to assist students who remain on-campus. If a student is experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 or the flu, we ask that they call the Health Center before visiting any of these locations to set up an appointment so that alternate service delivery might be arranged. The Alfond Center will remain open with modified programming.

However, we are announcing other immediate changes to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible:

• Following the NCAA announcement on Thursday afternoon to cancel all remaining winter and spring championships, and recognizing the spread and ongoing threat of COVID-19, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Presidents Council voted unanimously last night to make the difficult decision to call off all spring competition, practices, and championships for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.

• We are developing different methods for enhancing the safety of our campus food services. Pearson’s has a to-go policy, and starting today we are waiving the surcharge for to-go containers. We will announce other measures as they are developed.

• We are looking closely at all planned events on campus. Admitted Students Day is currently being reviewed. And while we are focused on the next few weeks, it is clear that Commencement may be impacted by this pandemic.

Finally, if you have been in a high-risk environment, you should not return to the Saint Joseph’s College campus. If you have questions about your possible exposure, or which locations are currently considered high-risk, please call the Health Center.

This pandemic has created uncertainty and anxiety not just for students and parents, but for people across Maine and around the world. All of us at Saint Joseph’s College are focused on reducing uncertainty in order to reduce anxiety and maintain good health. We are not taking steps based on panic, rumors, or because other institutions have reacted differently. We are monitoring developments by the minute, and then proceeding thoughtfully to make decisions that keeps our community safe.

Thank you for your attention to these communications, and your help in making this a successful transition for yourself and others. If you have questions, please email coronaquestions@sjcme.edu, and they will be routed to the appropriate member of our staff.

I often get asked by people who are just discovering Saint Joseph’s, what makes this place special? My answer is that we are a community in all senses of the word. We care for each other. We learn from each other. And we develop learners who are prepared to sustain communities all over the world. Times like these can test communities, but they can also make our shared values much clearer. I am so grateful to every person here for their empathy, patience, and community-mindedness throughout this situation. The best way to get through this is together, and I know that’s just what we will do.

Sincerely,
James S. Dlugos, Ph.D.
President