April 28, 2020 | College Communications

Dear North Central College Community,

In recent weeks, we have experienced a global health crisis the likes of which none of us has encountered in our lifetimes. Yet, the North Central College community has steadily moved forward with Cardinal spirit, creativity, and energy while demonstrating compassion and support for each other. I could not be more proud!

As the Spring Semester comes to an end, the College is looking toward the future and carefully planning for the Fall Semester. One thing remains certain: we will continue North Central College’s mission to deliver inspired instruction for our students this Fall, and we will do everything in our power to do that in-person, here on campus.  While faculty and students alike have responded admirably to remote instruction, the irreplaceable impact of our faculty, coaches and staff on our students when together here on the campus of North Central College is abundantly clear.  The life-changing interaction of students that bring different backgrounds and perspectives, the opportunity to research and learn in a laboratory setting, and vigorous intellectual debates all happen best in person. We will return to this model as soon as humanly possible.

The College’s COVID-19 Institutional Response Team (IRT), co-chaired by Dr. Kimberly Sluis and Dr. Peter Barger, will lead the planning efforts. We continue to carefully monitor the guidance of public health experts and expect that life will feel a little different, including the wearing of face coverings, additional hygiene measures and COVID-19 testing. But I remain hopeful, and cautiously optimistic, that with careful planning throughout campus, we will be able to welcome everyone back to campus for the Fall 2020 semester.

While our focus and energy will be on an in-person launch to the Fall semester, we will also plan for additional scenarios including a delayed in-person start and a semester that begins with remote instruction and learning, and transitions to an in-person model. For each of the scenarios, the Cabinet and IRT will develop plans based on expertise from public health officials and others to implement protocols with a focus on the health and safety of everyone in the campus community. I will provide regular updates to the campus community throughout the summer regarding the progress of the IRT’s planning efforts.

I wish to express my appreciation to the members of the IRT for their work this spring, and for their continuing commitment to the task of readying the College for the Fall Semester. The membership list is at the end of this message as a reminder of those who are devoting their time and attention to this effort.

I also wish to express my congratulations to our students for completing the Spring Semester, to our faculty for the swift and effective transition to remote instruction, and to the staff for the ongoing dedication and support of our students.

Best wishes and rest assured that we will stay connected with the campus community throughout the summer!

Troy D. Hammond
President
Professor of Physics

North Central College COVID-19 Institutional Response Team

• Co-Chair: Dr. Kimberly Sluis, vice president for student affairs and strategic initiatives
•  Co-Chair: Dr. Peter Barger, assistant provost and director of institutional effectiveness and planning
• Adrian Aldrich, executive director of development and alumni affairs
• Dr. Diane Anstine, dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship
• Jeremy Borling, director of communications
• Matt Burden, vice president for information and technology, CIO
• Dr. Stephen M. Caliendo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
• Joshua Davis, senior director of dining services, Chartwells
• Whitney Ewing, assistant director, Center for Global Education, education abroad
• Jim Godo, assistant vice president for external affairs and special assistant to the president
• Dr. Abiódún Gòkè-Pariolá, provost and vice president for academic affairs
• Mike Hudson, vice president for operations
• Brittany James, head athletic trainer; adjunct instructor of kinesiology
• Dr. Steve Johnston, Roger and Nadeane Hruby professor in the liberal arts and sciences; professor of biology
• Ashley Klco, director of campus safety
• Kimberly Larsson, executive director, Center for Global Education; assistant dean
• Kevin McCarthy, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students
• Dorothy Pleas, assistant dean of students and director of multicultural affairs
• Marty Sauer, vice president for enrollment management and athletics
• Tatiana Sifri, director of the Dyson Wellness Center
• Maryellen Skerik, vice president for finance
• Dr. Kimberly Sluis, vice president for student affairs and strategic initiatives
• Mary Spreitzer, assistant vice president of human resources
• Dr. Marci Swede, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences
• Matthew Tyberg, environmental health and safety manager
• Jesus Velasco, assistant director, Center for Global Education, international student services and engagement
• Natalie Vivacqua, director of operations
• Judith Ways, college health nurse
• Steven Weaver, assistant dean of students
• Dr. Julie Williams, assistant provost for student success and dean of academic services
• Andrew Zobac, director of residence life