August 22, 2022

Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,

It was wonderful to welcome students and families yesterday as our residence halls opened for the Fall semester. A reminder that more students will be moving in today and tomorrow, so if you are in the area of any of our residence halls, please take the opportunity to say hello and extend a warm WP welcome.

As we prepare for the start of the Fall semester with the beginning of classes this Thursday, I want to share information about some new resources that will help us all in our work. First, to ensure that our campus community is receiving timely responses to phone calls, IT will arrange for employees who are approved for remote work schedules to be set up for remote access to their William Paterson phone extensions. The University has begun the process of switching to a new phone system, Cisco Webex Calling, which allows for placing and receiving calls through a computer (with Cisco Webex software) or on a mobile device (with the Cisco Webex smartphone app). IT is working to transition departments to the new system, with priority for student-facing offices that do not currently have remote phone access. IT staff will contact departments to schedule their offices. The transition of offices that currently have remote access through the older Avaya phone system will then follow.

Also, Marketing and Public Relations has developed a variety of new marketing-related materials for use by the campus community. The new materials represent a fresh look at how we present ourselves via business cards, letterhead, email signatures, virtual backgrounds, and other WP-branded assets and will be available as needed. While limited supplies of printed business cards will be provided to those who most rely on them, I encourage everyone to take full advantage of the new digital business cards, which use a unique QR code to share your information with new contacts. They are easy to use, as well as more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. You can visit the M&PR website for more information and links to particular assets. A new form in WP Connect will be provided for ordering the new letterhead and envelopes. Look for more details in an email tomorrow from M&PR Vice President Stuart Goldstein. 

I am looking forward to delivering my Fall Semester State of the University

address on Thursday, September 1^st, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Please save the date and plan to join me in the Shea Center. The address will once again be available to view live online. A link will be shared closer to the date.

A reminder that William Paterson will be a mask-friendly campus for the Fall semester, meaning masks are no longer required indoors, with the exception of the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center. On the COVID-19 website, updates have been made to the health and safety sections for students and employees, the vaccine FAQs for students, as well as to the COVID-19 testing page, campus resources pages, and the policies and procedures page. Additional updates to the website are expected in the next few weeks based on changing guidance from the CDC and the state, so check there regularly for the most updated information. Significant updates will be communicated via email.

This week’s WP: We are Proud  – Congratulations to the WP Pioneer Softball team, which was recently honored for its academic accomplishments by the National Fastpitch Coaches of America (NFCA). Fifteen members of the program were honored as NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, which recognizes any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2021-22 academic year. William Paterson also ranked among the top 50 programs in Division III in team GPA, finishing 44th (3.568) under the direction of first-year Head Coach Jessica Jacobson. Like all Pioneer Athletics, the team exemplifies the true meaning of the student-athlete – success in the classroom and on the field of play.

Here’s to a great semester!