Our Community of Care

October 16, 2023

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues, 

As we return from fall break, we want to thank you for your continued investment in our students and our campus this semester. As we all reflect upon the current events in our country and in our world, we also recognize this is a challenging time. Hopefully, you had a chance to read President Wente’s blog post about our institutional response to crises and the need for ongoing and ever-evolving personal response. Additionally, we have created a University website where we will update available resources.

Connected to this complex issue, we write to ask that you be mindful that students (and faculty and staff) may be struggling to process these events. In particular, our students whose faith and cultural communities intersect, may be especially challenged in the days ahead. We ask that you extend flexibility whenever possible and remind students of the voluminous resources available, including 336.758.CARE (2273), the Office of the Chaplain, and University Police if there are wellbeing concerns. Our students learn best when they are cared for, and we thank you for paying attention to how they show up. 

As we approach the halfway mark of the semester, we want to extend our sincere gratitude and affirm that we are in this together. The mid-point also signals academic advising conversations and the start of registration processes for the spring semester. You play a significant role in offering support and advice that aid in our students’ academic success. As we layer this with the heaviness in our world, our elevated care will be especially important in helping students make sense of these complexities. 

With deep gratitude, we want to partner with you in our important work as educators. Our collective efforts, in the spirit of Pro Humanitate, is central to who we are. We are here to support you and want to remind you to reach out to our offices and the offices referenced previously. 

With gratitude,

Shea Kidd Brown 
Vice President for Campus Life 

Michele Gillespie
Provost

Charles Iacovou
Dean of the School of Professional Studies

Andy Klein
Dean of the School of Law

Jackie Krasas
Dean of the College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Tim Pyatt
Dean of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library

Annette Ranft
Dean of the School of Business

Corey D.B. Walker
Dean of the School of Divinity