Message from the President and Task Force on Summer and Fall 2021 Planning

The following message from the president and the Task Force on Transition & Adaptability was distributed on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

To the Webster University Community,

One year ago, in early March 2020, we shared with the Webster community the decision to move our courses to remote modalities and to cancel all face-to-face events until April 2020. At the same time, we established the Covid-19 Task Force to monitor regional, national and international developments; set up a dedicated Covid-19 web page; and began work to determine what measures and supplies would best protect our community.

Looking back at that message, full of optimism and hope that the pandemic would inconvenience us for little more than a month, Chancellor Stroble and I are truly amazed by – and grateful for – the commitment and spirit of Webster faculty and staff who faced and overcame the challenges presented by the pandemic, not for one month, but for 12 months. We have grown as a community in this past year, developing and implementing new ways to ensure our students can continue to pursue their degrees while keeping our community safe and healthy.

Today we are optimistic that we can return more fully to our campuses in the summer and fall and offer curricular and co-curricular experiences that bring us much closer to pre-pandemic operations. More details will be forthcoming, but we plan to:

• Return substantially to face-to-face teaching and learning in Fall, while continuing to leverage our increased technology to enhance classes and provide options for those who cannot attend in person.
• Ensure students in programs that require access to labs, studios, and equipment have needed access, while adhering to safety protocols.
• Welcome residential students to more typical housing experiences and increase the number of single rooms available.
• Reactivate in-person services, events, and experiences on campus, while continuing to follow guidance from the CDC and national and local health officials.
• Offer and host in-person campus and summer experiences for students, such as the TAP (Transitions Academic Prep) program for conditionally admitted students, while adjusting as needed for safety protocol.
• Require that community members follow health and safety guidelines of the CDC and local authorities in effect at the time.

As always, the Task Force on Transition and Adaptability and the working groups on safety and security, campus activities, and academic continuity continue to meet, monitor developments, and advise on next steps for Webster, keeping the health and safety of the community as the first priority. Should adjustments in our plans be necessary, the Task Force and I will communicate the specific changes.

Beth and I are excited that we are returning to robust in-person classes, activities, and events – with an ever-watchful eye on continuing Covid-19 developments. We look forward to seeing you on campus this fall.

President Julian Z. Schuster
and The Task Force on Transition and Adaptability