Published August 19, 2020
Welcome Back, Wittenberg Community!
While this year’s opening is quite different from previous years, I want to thank everyone who made the 2020-21 move-in experience and first day of classes huge successes. We will need to continue our collaborative efforts for the health and well-being of all, but right now, we are off to a solid start, which I hope continues. Without such collaboration and mutual understanding, our efforts at in-person learning will be compromised, so please continue to #MaskUp, Take Your Temperature, Stay One Tiger Apart, Wash Your Hands regularly, and refrain from gatherings of more than 10.
Please take time to view this special welcome video that A.J. Meyer '15 and Mackenzie Moran in Athletics made in partnership with University Communications, which provides a review of our new health and safety expectations.
Best Regards,
Michael Frandsen, Ph.D.
President
Wittenberg University
COVID Update
The COVID Response Team is working to answer all questions and respond as needed. The WITT: We're In This Together website is another helpful resource. Provost Mattson also recently shared an update on some helpful terms and processes underway, which I'm sharing here for all in our community:
Quarantine is for individuals that are asymptomatic and/or have reason to believe they have been exposed to the virus.
Isolation is for individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19.
We are working on making information updates on positive cases and isolation available on the website and will send out a notice when that resource is ready.
Currently, we do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus.
Opening Convocation
To celebrate the beginning of a new academic year in the safest way possible, we will be hosting a virtual Wittenberg Series' Opening Convocation on Sept. 1, featuring a dialogue between Julius Bailey, associate professor of philosophy, and Brian Yontz, associate professor of education and department chair. Together, they will discuss “Masks On - Masks Off: I Am Because We Are.” Tenure and promotions, and new student leaders will also be announced. More details will be forthcoming.
Virtual Engagement Options
Our Office of Alumni Engagement continues to manage a series of virtual Alumni College on the Road opportunities. Faculty who have presented so far include: Sarah Fortner, Jim Welch, Nancy McHugh, and Scott Rosenberg. The next event will be 3:30-4:30, Aug. 26 with Julius Bailey. Learn more here. Archived sessions can also be found here.
SAC Shout-Out
The Staff Advisory Council would like to send this month’s shout-out to the entire COVID Response Team. The team has worked diligently to ensure that our campus was prepared and able to open this week so we can continue to serve students during this unprecedented time. The team has also demonstrated daily that We’re In This Together, and for that we are most thankful.