It’s been approximately six weeks since the university transitioned from in person to online instruction for the remainder of spring semester. The obvious goal was to slow the spread of COVID-19 by restricting large gatherings of people.
As the weeks have slowly passed, students and the university community are learning to cope with the new normal. Recommendations from scientists around the world, institutions across the country, guidance from federal, state, and local health officials warn us to stay inside, practice social distancing, and wear a mask.
The U.S. Department of State acknowledges the current global pandemic resulted in unprecedented circumstances for U.S. universities when a majority of international students and exchange participants had to shelter in place and American participants in exchange programs returned home to complete their academic year 2019-2020 programs. Future exchanges, travel, and requests for visas have paused as the world waits for better conditions.
The David Eccles School of Business has not paused. Leadership, faculty, academic programming, and staff are very involved in plans for the academic year of 2020-2021. In response to the concerned voices of stressed students facing financial uncertainty, the fundraising team is working hard to secure emergency scholarship funds for business students and a plan to secure funding for on-campus, paid, internships that will provide additional income.
These are unprecedented times indeed, but also a time of great innovation. Leaders, students, and the university community are working together to find new ways to solve problems. This is 'the Eccles way'.
