I hope this message find you healthy and safe at home. It seems impossible that a month ago our country came to a near stand still. As a University, Glendon and York moved incredibly quickly so that our students had limited disruption to the term and staff and faculty were asked to work from home. It was incredible to see institutions that are so typically set in their ways move that fast. While we prefer our beautiful campus setting, we are maintaining operations at a distance and will do so as long as it is advised by Public Health officials.
Top of mind for all of us are our students as they faced this new normal just as the term was coming to an end. Glendon and all of York have been as responsive to student needs as possible. Professors moved very quickly to adapt to emergency online learning for the last few weeks of the term. Staff mobilized to set up a relief fund to assist students in financial difficulty during this emergency. Thank you to those who have already donated to this vital fund which supports students across both Glendon and Keele campuses. Glendon’s Accessibility, Wellbeing and Counselling services are also now available by telephone and web conference. Now more than ever students need support. Roughly 50 students remain in Residence at Glendon and we continually are checking in on them. They are being well looked after and will have the option to stay on past their exams in York University residences if they need to. Those who are interested can find all student-facing communications and resources in a bilingual format on York’s website.
While our newsfeeds filled with pandemic news, the Glendon Advancement and Alumni office launched Exam Wishes to help support students during their exams. This effort to spread a little positivity was very well received by students and our whole Glendon community. Thank you to those of you who shared an encouraging post or video. This effort underlines that while we are in uncharted waters, we can still show the best of Glendon to our students and community.
Looking to May and beyond, we are considering online alumni events and other engagement activities. If you have a suggestion, please reach out to Mireille or Marine. We know it’s not business as usual, but we do want to keep you connected to each other and Glendon. Your involvement matters now more than ever.
Professor Ian Roberge
Interim Principal
