As you鈥檝e seen in our most recent issue of the , our alumni and friends truly make up the fabric of our communities.
As we all adjust to the ongoing COVID-19 threat, the difference you make has never been more apparent. You may be in the medical field on the frontlines fighting this virus, operating a restaurant or business in a time of social distancing or just adjusting to working from home for the first time. Our hearts and best wishes are with you all at this difficult and uncertain time.
At Salem State University, we are doing everything we can to keep our students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community safe. We recognize that we play an important role in stemming the spread of this virus to reduce the burden on our local health care system and protect those for whom COVID-19 is a significant threat.
In response to this, we have moved all courses to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester, transitioned non-essential employees to remote work until mid-April, canceled university-affiliated travel, and canceled all upcoming university events. We鈥檝e even made the decision to postpone our commencement exercises.
None of these decisions have been easy to make but we believe they are all necessary in the interest of health and safety. We will continue to follow the CDC鈥檚, Department of Public Health鈥檚 and Governor Baker鈥檚 recommendations when it comes to large gatherings, and all event updates will be posted on our .
As many of our students work to support themselves and pay for their education, we remain concerned about the impact of this virus on their economic well-being. Many of you have asked how you can help. To assist our students, we have set up a to help students overcome the financial hardships that COVID-19 poses.
We will keep you updated over the coming weeks and welcome any questions you may have. Please don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out to me at 978.542.7527 or ccrounse@salemstate.edu.
For more details about Salem State鈥檚 planning and response to COVID-19, please .
Please practice all responsible measures to ensure the safety of yourselves and your families. Thank you for your loyal support and partnership as we work together as Vikings to get through this challenging time.
We will do what we can in the days ahead to find ways to lift your spirits. You might need that right now; I certainly do.
Health and happiness always,
Cheryl Crounse
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Executive Director, Salem State Foundation Inc.