August 17, 2020

President’s Update – Welcome to Fall 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Welcome to the start of FDU’s 79th academic year and perhaps the most unique and challenging year we have ever begun. Therefore, this welcome will be unlike others I have done in the past.

Last year certainly offered its share of challenges, and I want to begin by repeating what I have said many times. I am very proud of everyone for adjusting so quickly to the crisis that emerged. Thank you to our faculty for switching gears to online instruction, and producing their special brand of magic in virtual learning spaces. Thank you to our staff for moving to remote operations, and spending countless hours supporting our students. And, perhaps most importantly, thank you to our students for their cooperation and understanding, for their creativity in finding virtual avenues to connect with each other, and for not letting any of the external disruptions derail their academic progress and goals. Again, I can’t express in words how proud I am of everyone.

This pandemic has taken a heartbreaking toll, but the silver lining remains the collective commitment of many communities like ours to come together, overcome obstacles, and help each other. FDU is an extraordinary community with incredible people, and vivid illustrations of that can be seen everywhere.

Those same very special people at the University have planned intensely, preparing for this new and atypical semester. Many faculty underwent training in remote instruction over the summer months. Many staff developed on-campus safety measures and more robust virtual platforms to support student life activities. Obviously, we have had to make many adjustments in how we do things, and we are all too aware we may need to make even more adjustments as the year proceeds.

It is precisely that element of uncertainty that makes this year even more challenging than last year. Inevitably, we must plan for multiple contingencies and monitor events to determine what we are able to do. It can be easy to lose focus, and natural to become anxious. I understand the frustration and feel it myself. I will not pretend to know exactly what lies ahead. While I am hopeful things will improve, I know we have to be realistic and as prudent as possible considering the dangers still present with COVID-19.

I can tell you, however, that there are some very reliable constants that you can count on. First, we will continue to make the safety of our community the first, second, and third priority in all our decision-making. We are an educational institution, but we can’t teach, learn, or reach our potential if we are not well, so nothing matters more than the health and well-being of our community. We will work as hard as possible to safeguard everyone.

Second, while safety will always be paramount, the importance of our mission only grows in value when a crisis emerges. The most effective responses to the pandemic have been informed by education, and those in the front lines have relied on their training and expertise to care for those stricken by illness, anxiety, and loss. Education will always be our best weapon in the struggles we face today and those looming ahead. And so we are firmly resolved to continue our critical mission, and prepare our students to make a difference in a world that so desperately needs them.

Finally, I can tell you this for certain. While we don’t know what comes next, we know we are strong enough and flexible enough to adjust when we must. The answers we need may vary depending on what happens, but the blueprint for success is clear. Working together and united by common goals and values, we will move forward and be successful. We will forge a better path by joining hands together, albeit figuratively for now but nevertheless together in spirit, resolve, and commitment.

I wish you all good health and great success this fall and academic year!

Yours in FDU,

Christopher A. Capuano, Ph.D.

President

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Links to Updates

September 16: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update

September 9: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update

September 2: New Jersey Campuses Health and Safety Update

September 1: President’s Update – United for Our Students

August 17: President’s Update – Welcome to Fall 2020

August 10: President’s Update – Fall 2020 Semester

July 31: President’s Update – Returning to Campus

July 20: President’s Update – Fall 2020 Semester Reopening Plan

July 7: President’s Update – Preparing for Fall 2020 Semester

June 12: President’s Update – Supporting Our Students

June 4: Task Force for Campus Re-occupancy and Operations.

May 29: President’s Update – The Fall 2020 Semester.

May 8: President’s Update – Planning for the Fall 2020 Semester.

April 20: President’s Update – Important Cost-Saving Measures.

April 9: President’s Update – A Note of Appreciation.

April 9: Deadline Extension for Student Withdrawal from Classes.

April 7: All Summer Sessions for 2020.

April 3: Update on Pass/Fail Option for Spring Semester 2020.

April 2: Graduate Summer Sessions 2020.

March 30: Undergraduate Summer Sessions 2020.

March 25: President’s Update – Commencement.

March 25: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.

March 20: President’s Update – Remote Learning Extended for Remainder of Spring Semester.

March 20: Pass/Fail Option for Undergraduate Students for Spring Semester 2020.

March 15: President’s Update – Latest Actions Related to COVID-19 Pandemic.

March 13: Wroxton College Students to Return Home.

March 10: President’s Update on Moving to Remote Learning.

March 9: Working together as a community and an update on potential self-isolation.

March 6: Update on travel restrictions and recommendations, and a travel registry for faculty and staff.

March 2: Update on University-sponsored international trips as well as more travel-related news.

February 28: Update on international travel, study abroad, our international campuses and necessary precautions.