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we’re talking about preventing disease or reduc- ing hospitalizations and deaths.”
She recognizes that people have many dif- ferent perspectives that should be respected, but that the college has a duty to combat misinformation.
“If we need to do more education and bring some public-health experts in to reduce mis-
“If we need to do more education and bring some public-health experts in to reduce misinformation and allow for people to get the facts, then we’ll certainly do that as part of our strategy.”
information and allow for people to get the facts, then we’ll certainly do that as part of our strategy.”
Life of the Campus
In some ways, it has been a frustrating start to the semester, Dumay said, noting that the gen- eral feeling earlier in the summer was that masks would be optional, let alone vaccines, as COVID gradually retreated. While it hasn’t, he noted that it’s important for students to safety enjoy the full Elms experience.
“One of the distinctive features of an Elms College education ... is that it offers a vibrant and nurturing environment, and not just with the instruction that happens in the classroom,”
he said. “It’s all the interactions and how people behave with one another.”
College leaders believe important personal growth occurs through that interaction, he added.
“You can’t really do that with an online model. You can approximate it, but it’s not ideal. So to the extent we can, we’ll take the steps that are necessary so we’re safe and have an on-campus education, particularly for young people who are at that stage in their life where they’re forming their character.”
Like Scott, Dumay said the key lesson from the pandemic has been that it’s good to have a plan, but one thet can be modified at any given time. “We have a backup to the plan and a back- up to the backup. We’re prepared to shift as the environment changes.”
The second lesson is the importance of transparent communication, he noted, because without it, people tend to fill the gaps with misinformation.
“We’re not pretending the pandemic is over by any means,” AIC’s Scott said. “We’re comply- ing with the Springfield mask mandate right now and requiring masks indoors and outdoors when you can’t maintain the six feet. But we still have
a tent set up outside; we’re trying to drive people outside as much as possible, just as an extra layer of protection.
“But the 98% vaccination rate, along with masking — I don’t want to give people a false sense of security where you don’t have to be vigi- lant, but we’re feeling pretty confident that we’re doing what we need to do to keep people safe.”
If a pocket of infection arises, the campus is ready to bring in more testing supplies and trig-
ger quarantine protocols, but Scott feels like the double protection offered by vaccines and masks are the best way to keep that possibility at bay.
“There’s no one to be mad at,” he added. “I’m not mad at the mayor for putting in a mask man- date; he’s doing what needs to be done to keep the people in the community safe. But is it frus- trating when you think you have a plan and the pandemic doesn’t cooperate? Of course, but a virus doesn’t cooperate.”
What makes all the planning and inconve- niences worthwhile, he said, was seeing the energy of the students as they moved back onto campus a month ago.
“It was kind of a heartwarming moment see- ing some of these returners ... they left in March of 2020, and they didn’t come back until the beginning of this September. So when they see each other in person for the very first time in a long while, you can see it, you can feel it. They want to be with each other.
“We believe in the on-campus experience,” he added. “They’re coming here for all these things — to participate in athletics, to live in the resi- dence halls, to eat in the dining commons. We’re on an online campus in this moment.”
Dumay saw the same energy at the Elms — and doesn’t want to do anything that might threaten to snuff it out.
“The first week, seeing students back on cam- pus, was fantastic,” he said. “They’re happy to be here. They don’t want to be sent back to Zoom. They’re happy to be with each other. And we’re happy to see them.” u
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
FALL GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE
AIC's graduate open houses are designed to give prospective students an arena to get all the information they need at one convenient time. Attendees will chat with members of the AIC community to gain insight into our programs, admissions processes, college financing, and more.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021, AT 11 AM
VIRTUAL GRADUATE OPEN HOUSES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021, AT 6 PM:
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021, AT 5 PM:
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021, AT 6 PM:
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ARTS, AND SCIENCES
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