Lycoming College 2020 President's Report/Magazine

As the pandemic continues to affect and change how people around the globe live, a Lycoming task force was established to develop a detailed plan for a safe campus environment. Working closely with infectious disease specialists at the world- class health system, UPMC Susquehanna, the College was able to plan for the resumption of residential classes this fall. Both the Class of 2024 and returning students committed to a social compact that prioritizes the health and wellness of the community. Upon arrival, they were greeted with a number of safety protocols, including the installation of plexiglass partitions in public service areas, hand sanitizer dispensers, extended times between classes to ease congestion, enhanced cleaning of living and learning spaces, and the repurposing of additional campus spaces for classrooms to help ensure their safety. Lycoming continues to carefully monitor changing guidelines from federal, state, and local governments. “Every student whom we were expecting to arrive on campus this fall semester did, which is a testament to our dedication to being able to provide a safe return to residential learning,” said Chip Edmonds ’98, executive vice president. “The College has worked tirelessly throughout the summer months to ensure the health and well-being of our entire campus community. The nature of Lycoming’s curriculum and small class sizes make it easy to adapt to safety and social distancing protocols. In fact, it is this nimbleness that is part of its appeal to prospective students looking for a modern liberal arts and sciences education.” 19 COVID-19 task force The College has worked tirelessly throughout the summer months to ensure the health and well-being of our entire campus community. Following an extended Spring Break in March 2020, Lycoming College made the difficult decision to suspend face-to-face instruction and teach using remote formats for the remainder of the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty and staff worked tirelessly to reimagine courses in order to provide quality instruction for their students. Through the concerted efforts of the entire campus community, Lycoming rose to the challenge and not only successfully completed its spring semester, but developed a plan for the safe resumption of a residential education for the fall semester and created ways in which it could continue its engagement with alumni and the greater Williamsport community. PANDEMIC The COVID-19 LYCOMING COLLEGE’S RISE TO THE CHALLENGE 10 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2020 PRESIDENT’S REPORT/FALL MAGAZINE