TO: The Gustavus Community
FROM: President Bergman
SUBJECT: Important Announcement Regarding Summer Activities
DATE: May 5, 2020
Eight weeks ago our community was asked, almost overnight, to face a new reality. Our vision statement called us to boldly act on this great challenge of our time. Teaching and learning has taken place exclusively online instead of in discussion-based classrooms. Most of our employees are working from home, and all of us have been asked to balance family, work, and unfamiliar social practices. At the end of each day, I am filled with gratitude and exceedingly proud of the way we have navigated these extraordinary challenges.
Since mid-March, the Cabinet and other campus leaders have been making the day-to-day decisions required by the College’s quick pivot to new operational practices while also exploring a variety of options for the summer and fall. And while an uncertain future lies before us, I know that we have the right people and the right collective ethic to forge ahead with compassion, courage, and a spirit of community.
As we look to the summer and fall, we are confronted with another set of challenges. I ask for your patience, understanding, and trust as our institution takes the next steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please carefully read the entirety of this email for important College updates.
Summer Activities
The College has made the difficult decision to cancel all on-campus summer programs and large group gatherings in June and July. During a typical summer, approximately 5,000 people visit our campus for a variety of camps with different schedules, housing needs, degrees of close physical contact, and dining service requirements. As our leadership team considered requirements for social distancing and other Minnesota Department of Health recommendations and disease forecasts, it became clear that our ability to host our usual high-quality, high-interaction summer camps and events in a safe manner would be greatly reduced. As always, the health and wellbeing of our students, employees, and the general public was our primary concern in making this decision.
Staffing and Budget Adjustments
The cancellation of summer activities has several implications for our community. As a result of the decreased need for summer staffing and considering the budget implications of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, approximately 90 of our employees will be partially or completely furloughed for the months of June and July. These employees have been contacted by the Office of Human Resources and will retain their health insurance benefits throughout this period. We intend to have all employees back to work as usual beginning August 1.
Due to the ongoing budget impact of COVID-19 and uncertainties surrounding the 2020-2021 academic year, the Cabinet has made the tough decision that College employees will not receive a raise on September 1, 2020. Exceptions include staff who were previously notified that their current salary is below the minimum of their pay band, and faculty members who have been recently promoted. Suspending raises this year was an especially difficult decision based on our ongoing commitment to fair and equitable salaries at Gustavus. Please know that compensation remains a significant priority of the Cabinet.
We are implementing other cost-saving measures during the summer months that include extending the suspension of all non-essential College travel through at least July 31, tighter hiring practices for vacant positions, and a reduced number of summer student employees. A limited number of students will continue to work on campus with Cabinet approval. Additionally, members of the Cabinet will join me in taking a 10-percent salary reduction for June and July to help mitigate the impact of lost revenue related to summer events and camps.
The Office of Human Resources will email employees with more information. If you have questions about any of the topics above, please contact the Office of Human Resources or your Divisional Vice President.
Fall Planning
As I indicated in my message on April 23, the College intends to provide in-person, on-campus instruction in the fall if circumstances allow. Provost Kelly and the faculty are considering a variety of scenarios to allow for social distancing in academic spaces; solutions may include extending the class day, building in flexibility in the academic calendar, and/or offering hybrid courses blending in-person and online learning.
We also know that campus life will look different this fall. Comprehensive planning will be required as we consider how to best allow appropriate social distancing in the Market Place and other high-traffic campus areas, ensure safe residential living, and manage co-curricular activities. In the coming days, a Fall 2020 planning team will be announced. This group will report to the Cabinet and be responsible for developing plans for safe and effective College operations.
Gusties, I know that this situation continues to affect each of us in different ways. While these are challenging days requiring difficult decisions and personal sacrifices, I remain encouraged by the commitment, engagement, and resilience of our students, faculty, and staff. Please know that my thoughts continue to be with all of you as we navigate the evolving realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yours in community,
President Bergman