Moving Forward in Faith, Fortitude and Conviction!

Over the last few months, there have been so many things that have been put in our path, from the COVID pandemic to racial injustice. As I write this, we are finalizing our plan to open the 2020-21 academic year, and there is still so much uncertainty surrounding us as we at Siena Heights try to move forward.

First, the actions that caused the death of our brother, George Floyd, and many others, are totally unacceptable and an affront to our mission of respecting the dignity of all. As a faith-based university in the Catholic-Dominican traditions, our search for truth is of the utmost importance. And, sometimes, the truth is difficult for us to accept and face. We must take a long, loving look at ourselves and recognize our sinfulness. We must own where we have fallen short by recognizing how we have been a part of oppressing others either consciously or unconsciously. As a result, I have set up an advisory committee that will report to me and will assist the SHU community in dealing with these injustices.

The COVID pandemic brought an abrupt end to our Centennial Year celebration and left all of us – especially our graduating seniors – feeling incomplete. The decision to close the Adrian campus to protect our community was necessary, but heartbreaking. It meant the end of in-person classes, co-curricular activities and traditional end-of-the-year events like Torch Night, Baccalaureate Masse, Kente and Commencement.

However, in this time of turmoil, I could not be prouder of our community’s response. Our faculty stepped up and literally overnight converted their in-person classroom model into a remote learning format. Most of our staff were forced into a work-at-home scenario, and University business did not miss a beat. Many of our usual in-person events were converted into virtual events, allowing our community to celebrate in a new and innovative way. And our students accepted the challenge of adapting to a new learning environment.

As alumni, I hope we can count on your continued support. Today, we face perhaps the most challenging academic year in the institution’s history. For the past few months we have been preparing diligently, leaving no stone unturned in deciding what is the best and safest way to reopen the university. And though we recently decided to move Homecoming Weekend to a virtual format, my hope is you will still engage with us if you can. And we’ll see you in person in 2021!

This academic year will be a work-in-progress for all of us, but I believe we are up to the challenge. My hope is that we will move forward in faith, fortitude and conviction!

May our voices rise in prayer and may God grant us the courage and insight to do all we must do.

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD
President