TO: The Gustavus Community
FROM: President Bergman
SUBJECT: Gustavus COVID-19 Response Leadership Team
DATE: May 19, 2020
Over the course of the last two months, even as we experienced great change and ongoing uncertainty, I have seen the best of the Gustavus community. Despite its challenges, our transition to online learning has provided opportunity for reflection and innovation. Students, faculty, and staff have found new ways to support each other from afar. Through it all, I have been proud of the overwhelming sense of care and concern that have driven both our community’s decision-making and our interactions with one another.
As our institution pivots from day-to-day decision-making to strategic, longer-term planning, I am pleased to announce the College’s COVID-19 Response Leadership Team. Reporting to the President’s Cabinet, this group has been charged with developing strategies and plans to allow the College to welcome students back to campus for the 2020-2021 academic year. This work will be based on emerging best practices and government health and workplace guidelines. In addition, a second key purpose is to create a flexible framework that allows our plans to be modified as necessary in response to the ever-changing pandemic.
This work is being driven by the understanding that an in-person experience is an integral part of fulfilling our mission-centered liberal arts education at Gustavus. While we will remain flexible and respond to circumstances as they develop, it is our intention to have students living and learning on campus this fall. The leadership team’s guiding principles include ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff; maintaining our commitment to academic excellence and integrity; building community; committing to fiscal responsibility; and leading through innovation.
The COVID-19 Response Leadership Team members include:
Barb Larson Taylor, chair, Senior Director of Institutional Events
Jolene Christensen, Assistant to the President
Charlie Potts, Assistant Vice President for Student Life
Heather Dale, Director of Health Service and Assistant Dean of Students
Travis Jordan, Director of Physical Plant
Tami Aune, Director of Gustavus Technology Services
Steve Kjellgren, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services and Director of Dining Service
Scott Bur, Professor of Chemistry and faculty representative
Brenda Kelly, Provost and Dean of the College, cabinet adviser
Curt Kowaleski, Vice President for Finance, cabinet adviser
This leadership team will oversee the work of action teams comprised of students, faculty, and staff that dig into specific plans for areas including:
- Prevention, Screening, and Etiquette
- Prevention Equipment
- Testing, Monitoring, and Response Planning
- High-risk Groups
- Academic Learning Spaces
- Residential Life
- Dining Service
- Athletics
- Fine Arts
- Campus Events
- Campus Visitors
- Cultural Change
Our ambitious timeline calls for the formation of action teams this week and the delivery of a comprehensive set of recommendations to the President’s Cabinet by late June. If you are asked to serve on an action team, I hope that you thoughtfully consider the request and look for reasons to say “yes” to this opportunity to guide the College’s future. More information will be forthcoming as the leadership and action teams begin their planning.
Gusties, the road ahead is long and much work awaits us. To quote Winston Churchill, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” With a spirit of determination, an eye toward equity, and a commitment to careful planning and bold innovation, we are moving forward together.
Yours in community,
President Bergman