President’s Corner: Dr. Armstrong invites Salve community to virtual Town Hall

Dear Salve Regina Community:

I pray that this message finds you and your family healthy and safe, and I hope that over Easter break you were able to find some moments of rest and relaxation. These weeks since the onset of COVID-19 have yielded an odd combination of exhaustion and loneliness. I’ve heard it described as “anticipatory grief,” resulting from the great uncertainty that we’ve all been facing. Our exhaustion comes from the extraordinary energy we have mustered simply to navigate our fast-changing environment in these tumultuous days.

Though we are living in unprecedented times, signs of hope are emerging across the world with several countries and some of our hardest hit areas in the U.S. experiencing a “flattening of the curve.”  Here at Salve Regina, we are doing our very best to make sure that our community remains safe and that we continue to provide a quality educational experience for our students, despite our separation from one another.

In addition to our response to the crisis, we are looking ahead to our future as an institution. You may recall that just prior to remote learning, we hosted a Town Hall to gather your feedback as part of our work to advance our Strategic Compass initiative. Earlier in the semester, many interviews and focus groups occurred with different members of our community to help us think more deeply about our shared university values and our hopes for what a signature Salve Regina educational experience could be.

“We should be as the compass that goes round its circle without stirring from its center.” —Catherine McAuley

This week we will continue with our Strategic Compass work with the launch of a survey to all members of our community. On Wednesday, you will receive an email invitation from the Strategic Compass Steering Committee. I know that you are navigating a lot these days, but I would deeply appreciate if you could take a few moments to complete the survey as it will be important to hear from as many voices as possible to help us plan for Salve Regina’s future. We were on an upward swing prior to this upheaval, and once this crisis is behind us, I believe we will emerge even stronger as an institution.

On Friday, April 17, I’ll be hosting a virtual Town Hall at 2:00 p.m. for faculty, staff and our student leaders to provide some updates on our current landscape, and to give you an opportunity to ask questions in a more interactive setting. You will be receiving an event invitation this afternoon.  Please be sure to RSVP via the link provided so that the event is scheduled into your calendar. I’ll also host a similar Town Hall for all students next week on Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22) at 2:00 p.m.

It has been amazing to witness how the Salve Regina community has pulled together to support one another and our neighbors during this crisis.  Your dedication is humbling, and your many acts of kindness showcase our Mercy mission and how much a Salve Regina education is needed more than ever in this world.

Stay healthy, strong and safe!

All my best,

Kelli

Check out stories every Tuesday that showcase the world of academics at Salve Regina and how faculty, programs and students are innovating with remote living and learning during Virtual Salve. #academictuesdays #salvesgotthis