Parents and families,
It is my sincerest hope that this note finds you safe and well during this most unusual time. It’s difficult to believe that it’s been over a month since your student moved to campus. In the weeks since this momentous occasion, all students have done a tremendous job of making UWGB their home, of being respectful of campus safety guidance as it relates to Covid-19 and having successfully acclimated to their ‘new normal’. As you know, we are not only conducting surveillance testing of all residential students, but have increased the testing cadence to a weekly rotation. This testing regimen has allowed us to identify potential pockets of infection, and to react quickly to minimize spread to others. We will continue to be vigilant and do our very best to keep campus safely open for in-person classes and services. As we all watch how the infection persists in trending regionally, we completely understand the challenge that lies ahead, but our students seem highly motivated to stay on campus proper and that will surely bode well for all.
Even though the pandemic has stolen the spotlight from many worthy endeavors and achievements in 2020, the Office of Residence Life is doing what it can to ensure that students are having a traditional college experience. This is especially important for our first-year students. Our efforts look different this fall, but we’re doing what we can to facilitate strong roommate relationships, guiding the development of new friendships and providing robust out-of-classroom educational opportunities. By about early October, we like for our students to have found a friend group, have involved themselves in campus organizations and to be utilizing campus resources. If you believe that your student is not quite to that point or could use a little assistance with the transition to college – please reach out to me. I will work with my staff to help engage your student and offer them the nudge they may need to get them involved in their college experience. I can be reached at 920-465-2712 or simsg@uwgb.edu.
Thank you for all you do to support your student, and until next time – stay safe and well.
Go Phoenix!
Gail Sims-Aubert
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusivity & Student Affairs