A Message from President Kurt

PRESIDENT’S REOPENING MESSAGE

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020

Dear Montserrat Community Members,

After a preview last week of our fall reopening, please see the Montserrat College of Art Fall 2020 Campus Reopening Plan. This document is an introduction to the plans currently in place to create a healthy and safe place to learn, teach, study, live and work. We will continue to monitor the updates and changes to regulations being formulated by public health and government officials. This document will be updated as details are added and if guidance needs to be modified based on information from our consultants and official public health sources.

Over the next few months, this information will be shared again and again. We are living through an unprecedented moment, constantly learning new things, and frequently having to remind ourselves that things are not going to be exactly like they were in the past. There are many new behaviors we’ll have to learn and relearn. Through it all, I know that Montserrat will continue to be the very human and empathetic place it has always been. No matter the future, you can be assured that we will still be committed to ensuring that all of us will stay committed to our creative lives.

Most Sincerely,
President Kurt

RESOURCES
Academic Access Studio  Meagan Grant
Writing Center  Colleen Michaels
Financial Aid  Joanne Rakoc
Library Services   Cheri Coe
Student Affairs   Maureen Wark
Technology Services  cts@montserrat.edu
Health Services  sheryl.max@montserrat.edu

July 3, 2020

Hello Everyone:

This is an important link to a YouTube Interview with some key members of the staff working hard on preparing the campus for a safe and healthy return of Faculty, Students and Staff.

It is 30 minutes of great information done as a panel Question and Answer format. We will not cover everything but I think it brings into focus a lot of the efforts being planned and actively worked on as the Summer turns into Fall.

Our initial guidance will be posted on the website and distributed to you on July 10. This is a preview of our thinking so far and introducing some of the people dedicating themselves to the important planning.

Here is the link.

Please take the time to view it and look out for the more comprehensive guidance on July 10.

Be well.
President Kurt

JUNE 12, 2020

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

Dear Montserrat Faculty and Staff,

We are thrilled to announce that we are planning to resume on-campus, in-person classes as scheduled, in late August. We are eager to start a new academic year with both new and returning students.

Things will be different, in the classrooms, studio spaces and residence halls, with social distancing and new health and safety guidelines, but we are excited to be able to welcome our community back to Beverly!

The ‘official’ reopening of campus and academic year kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 when we are planning for the faculty and staff to meet and celebrate where we have been, and discuss how we are moving forward for the fall semester. (This will be online if we can’t meet physically.)

We are spending these next few months ensuring the cleanliness of campus through the use of many new tools and protocols, and everyone on campus will be provided with new guidelines to follow to ensure health and safety going forward.

All summer programs are being offered remotely to allow more time for cleaning, planning and preparing for the fall semester. They include Pre-College, STEAM and the Art Educator’s Workshop.

We are expecting to welcome back new and returning students to campus Aug. 28-Sept 1, using a staggered approach with appointments.

To comply with social distancing, the college is making changes to physical spaces in residence halls, classrooms and studios, which will be outlined in more detail as we are provided with more guidance from our public health offices and government officials. We will send more detailed information to you in July.

The faculty, staff and students were amazing at pivoting to online learning last spring and we will be prepared, should the need arise, to consider all options if future conditions warrant that.

I am happy to report that the admissions office has met its enrollment goals for the fall and that our retention numbers for returning students are very strong!

The last year will certainly be one to remember but my biggest takeaway is how proud I am to be a part of this community. I am looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus!

Sincerely,

President Kurt