COVID-19

August 14: Return to Campus

Aug. 14: Return to Campus

Dear Merrimack College Community,

I want to begin by saying we are excited to welcome our community back to campus this Fall. We have missed you all and Merrimack College has not been the same without its students, faculty and staff being on its campus. Students and faculty have begun to slowly return this week and I have been energized by their presence. I am humbled by each of our community member’s willingness to take on the important responsibility of keeping themselves and other community members safe to ensure each of us has a productive and successful semester.

The ongoing fight against COVID-19, the growing travel restrictions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other matters have caused challenges as we made our plans to return as a residential campus this fall, but I remain fully confident in our abilities, our new procedures and our plans to ensure safety for our entire community. Despite the challenges we faced, and will continue to face, our community has come together to solve complex problems, to find new ways to live, learn and work, as well as to ensure we would find a way to come back together and enjoy each other’s company once again.

As we begin to welcome the majority of our students back to campus starting this weekend, I wanted to share with all of you the updated version of the Fall 2020 Return to Campus Handbook as well as a new video we have created that covers the important topics that students, faculty, staff and parents must familiarize themselves with to ensure a safe campus experience this Fall. Please read the handbook and watch the video so you know what to expect when you arrive on campus.

Fall 2020 Return to Campus Handbook

As I have said in my previous communications, we have a shared responsibility to work together at this challenging time. Living, working and learning together in a pandemic requires incredible diligence and patience as we navigate a new world that will present us with unique challenges.

I thank you to all of you for your sacrifices, patience and commitment to this great College, its students and to each other.

God bless each of you. Be safe and be well.

Best,

President Hopey

<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4921-faculty-fast-five-with-janet-ierardi"><h3>Faculty Fast Five with Janet Ierardi</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to obstetrics nurse and associate clinical professor of nursing Janet Ierardi who teaches in the <a href="/nursing">nursing program at Merrimack</a>. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg" alt="The first in her family to attend college, Janet Ierardi has been teaching nursing for more than 15 years and tells her students to "squeeze every drop out of learning.""/></div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1920,1080/ignore_cropper/1/21260_MC_Church1.rev.1587317585.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="https://www.merrimack.edu/covid-19/addressing-financial-hardships/index.php"><h3>Merrimack Establishes Student Emergency Fund</h3></a> <p>As a testament to our Augustinian value of service to others and in the wake of this ongoing health crisis, Merrimack has established the Student Emergency Fund to assist those students who are facing additional financial hurdles due to COVID-19. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1920,1080/ignore_cropper/1/21260_MC_Church1.rev.1587317585.jpg" alt="Merrimack church"/></div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22294_Deans_and_Presidents_Twitter.rev.1613756422.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/academics/polices_procedures/deans-and-presidents-list/"><h3>Merrimack College Announces Fall 2020 Dean’s and President’s Lists</h3></a> <p/></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22294_Deans_and_Presidents_Twitter.rev.1613756422.jpg" alt="The top part of Merrimack College church steeple."/></div></div></div></div></div></section>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22293_lawrencebus1.rev.1613707763.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5012-merrimacks-early-college-program-expands"><h3>Merrimack’s Early College Program Expands Opportunities for Underserved Students</h3></a> <p>Early College programs in Massachusetts, including <a href="/pioneer-scholars">Merrimack’s partnership with Lawrence High School</a>, address educational equity and economic recovery. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22293_lawrencebus1.rev.1613707763.jpg" alt="In 2017, Merrimack College advanced its longstanding commitment to the City of Lawrence through the creation of the Early College Program, a unique dual enrollment program that enables high school students from Lawrence to earn college credits on Merrimack’s campus. "/></div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5009-bring-on-the-merrimack-college-marching-band"><h3>Bring on the Merrimack College Marching Band</h3></a> <p>Merrimack has launched its inaugural marching band to accompany the College’s Division I athletic program. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg" alt="The Merrimack College Marching Band launched with 40 members and plans to grow to around 100 members who will provide entertainment at Merrimack’s Division I sports events."/></div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4947-merrimack-college-awarded-nsf-grant-for-machs"><h3>Merrimack College Awarded NSF Grant for MACHS Scholars Program</h3></a> <p>Merrimack secures NSF grant for new STEM program to support high-achieving, low-income students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg" alt="Principal Investigator Dr. Rickey Caldwell, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering"/></div></div></div></div></div></section>

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