18 May 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff,

This certainly is not the way any of us envisioned the academic year drawing to a close when it began back in September, 2019. Who could have imagined that we would leave campus 9 weeks ago? The health and well-being of our community remains at the forefront of our COVID-19 response. We understand that the spring semester has challenged faculty, staff, students and their families, and that ongoing concerns for public safety leave us all feeling uncertain even as we look towards the fall semester. In spite of this, I could not be prouder of the way in which the Lehman community responded to challenges of this horrible pandemic. Our faculty and staff have banded together to ensure that the college continues to carry out its academic mission, transforming lives and igniting new possibilities. We’ve all embraced new ways of teaching and learning, partnered to revise academic policies and creatively reimagined the meaning of community and togetherness despite our physical distance. For that I am truly grateful.

I am hopeful that the summer will bring with it well-deserved time to recharge, reimagine and reignite your spirit. As we look forward to returning to our regular daily routines, reconnecting with students, friends and colleagues on campus much will depend on the progression of the virus, and guidance from CUNY and New York state officials. We are appreciative of your patience during this time of uncertainty and look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus as soon as it is safe to do so.

-P
Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success
Lehman College
The City University of New York