Welcome to an entirely different experience of college.
The shift to remote learning has been a big adjustment for all of our students. It has been an adjustment for faculty and staff. And it has been a big change for you, too.
I know firsthand what that’s like. My daughter is in her sophomore year, and last week I drove back and forth to Boston to pick her up from school. I’m happy to report that she and I are reacclimating to living under the same roof, and we’re doing a surprisingly good job of staying out of each other’s way as we spend our days working from different corners of the apartment.
I know you’re facing all sorts of challenges, too, and I want to assure you that all of us at Pace University are thinking of you and committed to supporting you. We started developing plans for this change early in the semester, and they’re working. We’re focused on your students, here to help, and determined that your students will continue to succeed.
Still, I know that part of the magic of college is the community we build together, and that has been dispersed, at least physically. This is particularly hard for students preparing to graduate in May. They’ve spent many semesters waiting for their chance to triumphantly walk across a Commencement stage, just as you’ve spent many years waiting to cheer them on. I’m sad that they won’t be able to do that as planned in a few short months. Please know that we’re currently busy exploring other options, and we’ll soon announce new plans, including some combination of virtual ceremonies in May and in-person ones at a later date.
As much as we’re all learning new ways of being college students, college faculty, and college parents, it’s also important to recognize that we
are
doing it, that we’re moving forward. It’s critically important to all of us at Pace that our students stay current in their coursework and on track toward their planned graduation. It’s a different kind of educational experience, but it’s paying off. Our IT department reports that nearly one thousand videoconferences are happening across Pace each day, for lectures and counseling and tutoring and meetings, and faculty and staff tell me that they’re going well. I’m seeing that myself in the course on education policy I’m now teaching remotely. We’re all focused on ensuring that your students continue to get the education they deserve. We’re continuing to create opportunities for our students.
The good part of all this new technology is that it gives students an opportunity to stay connected to each other even as they are separated. Perhaps for the first time, I’m telling parents to encourage their students to keep their heads buried in their computers or their phones. It’s how we’ll all keep learning, keep connecting, avoid loneliness. It’s why we’re creating programming to keep everyone connected even as we’re separated. And it’s how our Pace Community will stay strong.
As a parent, I know that I’m concerned about how my children will be able to thrive in this changed world. If you’re worried about your student’s internship plans this summer, or their job prospects beyond that, I’ll tell you the same thing we’re telling students: They should go talk to Career Services. The team there is doing remarkable work, with their office fully up and running online and career counselors available via Skype, Blackboard, Zoom, or even the telephone. The employee relations team is talking to about 2,000 employers that have worked with us in the past, finding out about their summer plans and opportunities. And the office has a whole set of recommendations for things students can do from home to prepare for the workforce, like polishing their resumes and Linkedin pages, sharpening their interview skills, and even working on certificates and skills training that will make them even stronger candidates in the future.
I can’t pretend to know precisely what’s going to happen over the next few months. But I do know that our students will remain on their educational paths—and ultimately see themselves enriched and strengthened by the experience of the extraordinary times we’re living through.
Thank you for giving us the greatest gift you can—the privilege of working with your students. We’re working hard to ensure we continue to live up to that obligation. The tremendous efforts we’re all making—our faculty, staff, and students, and you, our extended Pace family—make me confident we’ll get through this together.
