Dear Members of the NJCU Community:
I would like to take a few moments to share some reflections and hopes for the NJCU community at this time of tremendous challenge. I have been humbled by the selfless acts of care and concern that I have seen from the NJCU community—faculty, staff, students and alumni have stepped up to meet the demands of the time, to look out for one another, and to go the extra mile to help where they can. The well-being of our community has been and will always be our highest priority.
I have been amazed at the innovative ways that the community has come together to engage with one another despite the social distancing. In addition to transitioning our classrooms to become fully online experiences, the NJCU community has organized artists’ talks, performances and concerts, workshops and colloquiums, fitness challenges, and more.
Students First
Our commitment to our students is stronger than ever. Our Student Affairs and Residence Life staff have been reaching out to all students regularly to help them stay connected to NJCU and to each other, and to be sure that their voices are heard. Our Advising office is fully engaged as well, and working intently to help students think about what they need right now and how to plan for the future. We are currently discussing plans to celebrate our graduating seniors in the short term so that we can recognize their incredible achievements.
Our Library, Department of Online Learning, IT department, along with all of our other campus offices have been working tirelessly to provide assistance with everything from residential student needs, to financial aid and a Student Emergency Fund, to WiFi access, the distribution of laptops, as well as training on remote-work applications. Our faculty have embraced new ways of teaching and engagement to ensure our students’ success. And our essential staff on campus and our staff who are working remotely have been doing all they can to support the NJCU community at the highest levels.
NJCU has long been known for outstanding teaching and strong relationships between faculty and students. I am grateful to all for their patience, and their understanding of the challenges we face together. I am so proud of our community. We have maintained strong engagement with students, faculty, and staff through our shared commitment to learning and knowledge exchange. Each day, we continue to uphold this commitment.
None of us has ever been through anything like this, and though we acknowledge that the personal and professional sacrifices we are making are crucial to the health of our community and our loved ones, we know they come with very real costs.
We Grieve as a Community for Those We Have Lost
Despite the positive ways in which we have embraced our circumstances, I must pause to reflect on the tremendous losses to our community. Our hearts go out to all of those who have lost loved ones due to this global pandemic. We feel these losses profoundly, and we grieve alongside those who have been affected. When one member of our community is hurting, we all feel that pain. Please be sure to take some time to talk about these feelings of loss with friends and loved ones. Each of us is experiencing this pandemic in our own unique ways, but collectively, we are here for one another, and only together can we see this through.
Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Updates via Zoom
I know all of you are eager for updates regarding the effects of this global pandemic on the University as we move forward. Therefore, beginning Friday, April 24 at 3 p.m., I will be hosting a bi-weekly COVID-19 Update via Zoom for the NJCU community. Login details are as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
When: Apr 24, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://bit.ly/3aqma6N
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
You Make the Difference
Finally, I want to say thank you. Thank you for all that you have done as students, as faculty and staff, as colleagues and as friends. Thank you for all that you continue to do every day, and for what you will do in the days ahead. I am grateful for the care you continue to show for the NJCU community, for your own families, and for yourselves.
Indeed, the University is profoundly grateful to each of you. We will see this through, and we will emerge stronger and wiser. We will do this together and we will remain NJCU strong.
Sincerely,
Sue Henderson, Ph.D.
President
