Dear Immaculata Community,

Happy New Year! I hope all of you were able to make the best of the winter break despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 virus. I think it is safe to say that we are all very happy to see the end of 2020!

I want to make you aware of a few updates as we turn our attention to the start of the spring semester. We will begin classes as planned, on January 25, 2021, and look forward to seeing faculty and students back on campus. Our intention is to offer a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online courses throughout the entire spring semester. Students should review their course schedule on SSIU on or after January 18, 2021.

Residential students will be able to move-in for the spring semester on January 24, and specific information about the move-in process will come from our Residence Life and Housing team.

Our plan is to maintain the Spring 2021 Academic Calendar with the exception of eliminating the designated undergraduate finals week; the last day of instruction will be May 10, 2021. The spring semester reflects current COVID-19 conditions and is contingent upon any additional directives from the Governor’s Office. Additionally, assuming there are no directives from the Governor’s Office to curtail our plans, Commencement ceremonies will take place May 14 for the College of Graduate Studies graduates, and May 16 for the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult Professional Studies graduates.

Updates have been made to our Campus Health & Safety Plan, and our goal is to ensure the safety of the entire Immaculata community. This will require the continued commitment and cooperation of everyone. We will all have to continue to abide by the protocols, procedures and responsibilities that have kept us safe thus far— masking, social distancing, daily self-monitoring and prohibition of parties and large social gatherings. We will continue to monitor developments related to the pandemic, including local and state public health guidance and regulations. You will know immediately if any developments require changes to our plan.

This pandemic has already taken a heavy toll on our society and on our Immaculata family. Before closing, I want to express my sincere sympathy to all of you who have lost friends or family members during the pandemic. I express my gratitude to our students, their families, our faculty and staff, who have worked hard to embrace the required changes and provide our IU Community the benefit of a safe campus environment.

I am confident that we can manage through this pandemic smoothly in a safe learning environment. Thank you for your understanding and patience, and for your continued efforts and commitment to keeping our campus safe.

I look forward to seeing everyone back soon! It cannot come soon enough!

Barbara Lettiere
President