Dr. Tommy King: Adjusting to a new reality
To the William Carey family:
Let me assure you that you and your family have been in my prayers as we struggle with the COVID crisis. These past few months have been unprecedented and have required enormous strength and patience as we face major change. This will not go away soon and will require a new way of looking at the world. I pray for you as you cope with the situation.
I am so proud of our students and employees as we have faced these trying times and adjusted to the new reality. We shifted all courses to an online delivery system and completed the spring trimester successfully. An indication of the character of our student body is reflected in the fact that our summer school enrollment is the highest in the history of William Carey.
No one knows what the future holds, but we must look ahead to the fall trimester 2020. It is our intention to return to a regular on-campus schedule as we face the new normal. All plans are fluid and subject to change as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and state requirements. Please visit our website regularly for updates.
Some students will begin arriving in early August. Move-in day for most students will be Aug. 21 and classes begin Aug. 24. As we prepare for the coming year, our number one priority will be the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. With that in mind, we will expect to make modifications as recommended by the CDC to enhance the environment in which we will live and learn together. The following adjustments are in the preliminary stage and will be revised as needed to improve the environment for learning:
- We will eliminate most large group gatherings. Chapel will be virtual and only one chapel attendance will be required of students (further information on this to come). Ministry groups, student organizations, campus activities, performances and sports events will require social distancing and masks.
- Beginning July 2, all employees and students who enter campus will be required to complete a daily health screening which will determine the probability of exposure to the virus and will determine whether the individual is cleared to enter campus or not.
- Class size will be limited to the number of students that a classroom or lecture hall can accommodate with distancing requirements. Professional programs requiring labs and clinical experiences will develop their own schedules to provide those experiences in the safest environment possible (students in these programs will be informed prior to the first class meeting). Flexible schedules, hybrid and online adjustments will be made to accommodate class size.
- Through the remainder of the summer we will operate with a skeleton crew with most employees working remotely. It is our intention, however, to be available to you to answer questions and accommodate your needs. You may contact us online or call the main number, (601) 318-6051, and you will be directed to the department or office that you need.
- This fall we will have in place appropriate standards of social distancing, required masks in all settings where other students/employees are present, suggested dining hours and daily self-monitoring.
- We will have precautions in place for students living in residence halls and sanitation plans for high-traffic areas. We will reserve some rooms in the event they are needed to quarantine students.
- We will continue to monitor on a daily basis the prevalence of infections and will adjust as needed. This will include converting to all-online classes, if necessary, to protect the health and safety of our students and employees.
Our priority is to keep students’ progress toward degree completion on schedule and we have plans to make whatever adjustments are necessary to assure that opportunity. May I again urge you to monitor our website regularly for updates to these plans. I look forward to seeing you this fall and am praying for you as you complete the summer.
God bless,
Dr. Tommy King, President
William Carey University
