Colleagues,

Greetings to you. I hope you are safe and well. I write to you today to update you on staffing adjustments that you may find pertinent in your work.

As Dr. Truss leaves us this week, Barry McClanahan has assumed the position of Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. Barry has served us well as the associate vice president for student affairs for the last year, and has dedicated the last 28 years of his career to Shippensburg University. Having served in various roles in the dean of students office, housing and residence life, and now overseeing all of student affairs, Barry is well-equipped to assume the leadership role in this area while we complete our national search for Dr. Truss’s replacement.

In the next few weeks, our campus will come to life again as more employees return to their campus offices and work spaces. It’s the first step in our plans for a fall return. That planning continues in earnest. I thank you for your contribution and keeping the focus on our students and their success while we work to mitigate the risks of COVID-19. In addition, State System, state, and federal guidelines are shifting frequently in response to the ever-changing impacts of the pandemic. It adds to the work, but we will continue to adjust to ensure we follow the guidelines provided to us.

While developing the plans for ensuring quality instruction is paramount, complexities of planning for fall extend to the parts of university that touch the student experience. Processes are being implemented for all facets of student life on campus including housing, dining, student conduct, and activities.

I know this is a time of great anxiety, as we watch the numbers of COVID-19 cases rise across the country. It is hard to envision now, but we will get through this. In the meantime, we will not let up on moving this university toward a bright future. We still have students to educate. We still have future students who are looking for the quality education and experience that only we can offer. We will continue to innovate and adjust to move through this challenging time successfully. Now is the time for us to model resilience and grit for our students while working together to mitigate risk to our campus.

Sincerely,

Laurie A. Carter