Support and appreciation for our faculty
Friday, April, 10th, 2020 COVID-19 Academic Announcements
| April 10, 2020 |
| Dear Colleagues, |
| I wanted to reach out to you during this pandemic that has so profoundly affected all of our lives. Speaking for President Monaco and the entire administration of the university, I would like to express my gratitude for the tremendous efforts and sacrifices you have made. Whether you have had to convert your courses to a remote modality with little warning, suddenly close your research and teaching labs, or find new ways to deliver yourclinical or service work, you exemplify what I have come to see as the spirit of Tufts: a dedication to our students, our patients, and our communities that overrides all other considerations. I know that your home life must have been disrupted not only by the virus but also by the increased demands that your work has placed upon you. I want you to know that we are absolutely committed to returning the university to normal as soon as possible while also asking for your patience as we closely monitor this uncertain situation.
In order to help you during this difficult time, we are actively looking forways to support your work. I am working with our school deans, Vice Provost Kevin Dunn, Vice Provost for Research Caroline Genco, and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) to strengthen our support networks and mentoring programs that make Tufts such a strong, collaborative, and unique community. Our deans have also been working hard and are considering a variety of possible andappropriate adjustments within their schools to address some of the disruptions that have hindered your work. Your dean will be sending you more information soon about specifics related to your school. I cannot say strongly enough how proud this last month has made me to be part of the Tufts community. Your willingness to do whatever it takes, yourspirit of collaboration, your focus on the well-being and learning of ourstudents, your commitment to helping our communities, and your research and scholarship seeking solutions to the grand challenges – including this pandemic – that the world faces, all make me realize how fortunate I am to be part of Tufts. I am dedicated to supporting you and your efforts throughout this pandemic, and I know that together we will come out on the other side of this stronger and with new skills and new insights into how to fulfill our teaching, research and scholarship, clinical work, and public service missions. |
| Thank you for your monumental efforts and best wishes to you and yourloved ones,
Nadine Aubry |