From the Office of the President:
Dear Members of the Fordham Community,
It is difficult to believe that a year ago today, Fordham took the extraordinary step of suspending face-to-face instruction to protect the campus community from the threat of the COVID-19 virus. Through the past year, the pandemic has upended virtually every aspect of our lives. Yet hope is finally on the way, as safe and effective vaccines are rapidly being distributed locally, nationally, and globally.
I am pleased to share with you the news that Fordham is preparing to offer the full range of in-person instruction and on-campus activities this fall. The federal government now projects that every adult in the United States will have access to the COVID-19 vaccine by this summer. Therefore, we anticipate that many of the COVID-19 constraints under which we operate today will be relaxed as the pandemic subsides following mass vaccination efforts.
In preparing for the next academic year, Fordham will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community as we plan for a return to the robust on-campus experiences that are the hallmark of a transformational Jesuit education. Please be assured that, as has been the case during the current academic year, our planning efforts will be fully informed by guidance from local and state Department of Health officials along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fordham will, of course, consider ways to accommodate students whose health or immigration status does not allow them to return to campus by opening day in the fall.
We will be sharing regular updates in advance of the start of the semester on 1 September 2021. In the meantime, please know that I am deeply grateful to and proud of all of you for all that you have done and continue to do to make the current academic year as successful as it is. I am especially grateful for the many sacrifices you have made to protect your colleagues and classmates.
I believe the finish line is in sight, and I ask you to be mindful of COVID-19 precautions for the next few months, to better prepare for fully repopulating the campuses this fall.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers every day.
Sincerely,
Joseph M. McShane, S.J.
