Dear Students,
This is a particularly busy time of year for everyone in our community, and many of you may be counting down to the Thanksgiving break. My colleagues across the University tell me that more and more students are seeking support through the Counseling Center or our academic support services, and I encourage you to continue to do so. College students carry a significant amount of stress even without the complications added by the pandemic.
If you need support, please reach out to the Counseling Center through their website or by calling 410-617-2273, Campus Ministry, Academic Advising and Support, the office of the dean of undergraduate studies, ALANA Services, and the office of student life. You can also find resources on the Counseling Center site and on this Campus Ministry prayers and resources page.
We are on this journey together.
Change to Course Withdrawal Date
We are extending the withdrawal date for undergraduate courses to Dec. 1 so you can use the Thanksgiving break to think about whether you want to withdraw from a course. This decision may be based on your grade in a particular course or an overall assessment of how you can best maximize your time and your grades for all classes for this semester as a whole. Please reach out to your professors, your advisor, or the office of the dean of undergraduate studies if you need advice in making your decision. Be realistic about what is possible for your grades this semester. We want to give you every opportunity to succeed and feel good about your academic achievements this year.
COVID-19 Update
Our COVID-19 numbers continue to stay low, as you can see on our COVID-19 dashboard. Please continue to wear your masks indoors, as required by Loyola and Baltimore City protocols. I hear from members of our community that people visiting the Fernandez Center often neglect to wear masks—or wear them properly. Please know that your choices have an impact on our whole community.
Thanksgiving Break
I encourage you to continue to make wise, healthy decisions over the Thanksgiving Break. Whether you are traveling or visiting with people you don’t see as often, please take steps to stay healthy, wear your mask, avoid large crowds, and wash your hands frequently.
We will increase our surveillance testing of the vaccinated members of our community in the weeks after the break to make sure we have a smooth end to the semester on campus.
Flu Vaccine
Student Health Services is extending the deadline for proof of the Influenza vaccine from Friday, Nov. 12, to Friday, Dec. 3. The extended deadline will give students more time to comply with this requirement for the 2021-22 academic year. Once you are vaccinated, you’ll upload that document to the Loyola Patient Portal.
NASCE Survey
If you have not completed the National Assessment of Service and Community Engagement (NASCE) Survey, please look for the email with the subject line, “NASCE Community Engagement Survey at Loyola!”, that you should have received on Nov. 1. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Hanway Lecture in Global Studies
We have several wonderful events planned for International Education Month. I hope you’ll participate in those and consider attending the Hanway Lecture in Global Studies, which will feature Nadia Murad, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist. The Hanway Lecture will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in McGuire Hall and via livestream. Learn more on the Hanway Lecture in Global Studies site.
Conclusion
In this month of gratitude, I am so very grateful for this extraordinary Loyola community and for all we have to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead.
Sincerely,
Amanda M. Thomas, Ph.D.
Interim President