Dear Moore Students,
In anticipation of our return to Spring 2020 classes on Monday, March 23, we reach out to you with thoughts and words of welcome, encouragement and optimism. We know that you, your families and friends—like all of us—have experienced an unprecedented two weeks of COVID-19 news, advice on ways to keep ourselves and our communities safe, the interruption of classes, and, now, the collegewide transition to remote, off-campus, and online teaching and learning. We know that there has been a tremendous amount of information and change to negotiate as individuals, communities and cities adopt new health and safety practices, including limited access and the closing of stores and businesses, and working remotely at home.
In the past two weeks, Students Affairs and Academic Affairs have worked together to do everything possible to ensure a positive and successful completion of the semester for all of you. Student Affairs has focused on assisting our residential students with their move off-campus, as well as commuters who have needed to gather belongings, while laying the groundwork of support for you as we all work together in new ways for the rest of the semester. This includes counseling and advice on mental and physical health, programming, access and other student support services.
During the extended Spring Break, Academic Affairs and the Connelly Library hosted workshops and seminars for Moore faculty in all majors and programs to prepare for online teaching and office hours, as well as strategies and—in some cases—alternative assignments and projects to support your learning and success. In addition, Academic Services and Academic Affairs worked collaboratively with chairs, directors, and studio technicians to assist students with the safe-keeping and removal of work and materials from studio and workspaces. We will follow up next week with more detailed information on student, academic and online services to support your remote learning experiences. As we tackle this new terrain, we pledge to keep you updated every step of the way—please continue to check your Moore inbox, follow our social media feeds (@moorecollegeart) and check for COVID-19 updates at moore.edu/coronavirus.
All of us, in whatever role we have at the college, are facing new challenges in the midst of this global crisis, while embracing new opportunities to grow. We are in this together as we navigate our new learning and teaching environment—and we will be bound by our shared commitment to each other, to openness and curiosity, to kindness and a positive sense of purpose, and to the shared values of our vibrant Moore community, as we live and work remotely.
Josh Wilkin, Dean of Students Affairs
Patti Phillips, Chief Academic Officer
