HPU is Choosing to be Extraordinary in Response Efforts
A letter from Senior Vice President for Student Life, Gail Tuttle
Published and Distributed to Families on May 18, 2020
Hello Friends,
Please know that we are missing your student, and we are missing our entire HPU family. I know that as a parent, you are in a constant state of worry and wanting normalcy. We understand! We have felt these emotions over the past few weeks, too.
All of us at HPU have felt profound sadness with the physical absence of our students. Many of us have even caught ourselves touching the screen of our phones or laptops when seeing student faces on Instagram – an honest reflex that I think illustrates our commitment to serve in the development of your student. While we’d much rather see them in person, some form of connection is better than no connection at all.
That’s why I’m writing you this letter today. I simply want to connect and let you know how we are working to keep your student’s home safe.
Many of you know about my experience as a Red Cross disaster volunteer. I’m grateful for my disaster relief experiences because it has helped me in this process. To experience first-hand helping those in need with their recovery has taught me so many life lessons that are invaluable in our preparation for students returning to campus. Like you, I still worry. That’s what happens when you care about your family and your community.
At HPU, with a leader like Dr. Qubein, we understand that we must transform our unproductive worry into actionable wisdom. That is exactly what HPU’s Health and Safety Task Force was conceived to produce: strategy and execution to diminish the spread of COVID-19.
I have been inspired by the collaboration and teamwork of those on our task force. I want you – PARENTS – to know that we care, but I also want you to know that we need your help…
Forever Focused on Your Student
You’ve seen a few of the many ways we are transforming our campus norms: face coverings, physical distancing, and additional educational initiatives to reinforce personal hygiene and behavior. These are all good and necessary science-based responses to improving our campus environment. But there are other aspects that hold equal importance when it comes to any family. And family is exactly what this campus really is.
Every time we put a measure in place or think through something, we always ask ourselves: “How will this feel for the student? How will the student manage this?” Yes, we partner with your student, but ultimately, each student must choose to follow community standards. Each student must choose to create a healthy living environment. Each student must choose to be a productive member of the HPU family.
I know your student will rise to the challenge because HPU is their home, and they long to return to it. Many of you told me your student lovingly complains that your omelet or chocolate cookies aren’t meeting their HPU standards. I hope you can forgive them and appreciate the amazing environment they reveal when they compare your cooking to HPU’s! Be proud that you’ve helped them earn success and discover significance at the Premier Life Skills University.
Premier Life Skills – the silver lining
While we work to maintain their home, we know that our students will still experience disruption through a new way of doing things. But, as the Premier Life Skills University, our educational curriculum and campus philosophy is founded on the belief that students must be prepared to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. We will take this moment as yet another opportunity to educate, inspire, inform, instill values, and continue our mission to prepare your student for the world as it is going to be.
Your student will be getting many additional life lessons. They already have – they long for human interaction and for time with friends. They miss visiting the Slane Café to enjoy Ms. Christy’s omelets or the sounds of Adrian saying, “Good morning!” Oh, how we have all missed that!
Patience, social responsibility, public health aptitude and most importantly, caring about ourselves and those around us are important lessons we’ve instilled and will continue to foster on our campus. This pandemic is an important reminder of humility and self-sacrifice. Our existence is not just our own; our existence now potentially influences someone else. The very breath that we take could possibly be exhaled and infect another. That’s so hard to think about, but now, it’s the reality of our world. We are committed to helping students navigate complex situations like this one.
HPU is still home – and we’re working to keep it safe
It is a privilege for us to know that HPU has a place in the heart of your student. With our Health and Safety Task Force, we are meeting twice a week and working tirelessly outside of those meetings because we know we must get this right! Just like with disaster assignments I’ve experienced, things change daily, sometimes minute by minute.
At HPU, we will be taking every measure to ensure a safe, healthy environment.
Parents, here’s where I need your help – This may feel disruptive and annoying, but a little annoyance can teach us all lessons of love and care for our fellow classmates, staff and faculty. We may have to adjust some of the very social engagements that your students have longed for. Some protocols may be determined by our state government and be completely out of our control. We ask for your support, prayers and patience while we navigate these situations.
Know that we sought input from our student leaders. Sam Carr, newly elected SGA President, has served alongside of me and others on the Health and Safety Task Force. We must also include a student voice of reason, and Sam has provided that.
Our environment will have changes; both physically and mentally. Let’s gear up. We can do this and do it together. While not always perfect, we strive to make enhancements to your student’s home away from home.
We are counting on our community to give back by doing the right thing, and that includes wearing our masks proudly in public areas and setting this expectation for those we love the most, as well as informing the university when someone is ill and/or symptomatic by submitting a care alert.
Be patient and be kind in this process. Our students already know how to do all of this with great care!
I hope to see your family in person soon. Until then, I look forward to continuing to catch up with you online.
Sincerely,
Gail Tuttle,
Senior Vice President for Student Life