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COVID-19 Update: April 30, 2020

April 30, 2020 (1:36 pm) Central Time

Dear Simpson College Community,

Good morning. Today marks nearly 25 emails you have received from me regarding COVID-19. During this time we have all felt a wide range of emotions that have spanned from shock and fear to gratitude and appreciation. No matter what range of emotions you have felt at any given time, I commend this community for your strength and resiliency. We have never as a world faced such a time in our lifetimes, yet I remain optimistic. I remain positive about tomorrow because of today. Later this evening, our campus community will gather via zoom to salute our senior class. While each class is unique and special to our college, this year’s graduates hold particular significance for me in my interim role as President. I also remain positive because of the amazing students we have at Simpson College who are full of energy and possess poise - - - all while living through a global pandemic.

A New Beginning

I am excited to confirm that President Marsha Kelliher will be joining the Simpson College family on Monday, June 1. President Kelliher is already engaged in getting up-to-speed and I can assure you we are working collaboratively on a smooth transition. Please join me in welcoming her to Simpson.

Celebrating the Class of 2020

Our campus community is uniting to celebrate the class of 2020. Below are the specific events shared with faculty, staff, and students related to graduation. Please note, we will be announcing next week the date for the rescheduled commencement.

                at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.  Join your friends, faculty and staff of Simpson College as we salute students with a toast!

  • Honors Convocation Award Winners Announcement: Monday, May 11, 2020 - Celebrate with us the achievements of all Simpson Students as we announce the Honors Convocation Award Winners for 2020.
  • The week of May 18, 2020— graduates will receive their Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Diploma Cover in the mail. We encourage and look forward to graduates sharing their pictures with us on the Simpson College social media channels.
  • Virtual Baccalaureate: Reflections with the Class of 2020 on Thursday, May 21, 2020 – Please join us at 7 p.m. – more information will be provided by college Chaplain Mara Bailey in early May.

Beginning next week, we will move to a weekly COVID-19 email update to be issued each Wednesday. As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued, we have witnessed the increased need to continue our work and communicate with our vast campus community on specific issues of importance to them. As such, we will continue to communicate weekly all the while sending individual updates to our campus community on topics of particular importance to them, soon to be coming from President Kelliher.

Connect with Us

We continue to maintain and respond to all questions submitted through our dedicated email address. Please email, COVIDResponse@simpson.edu  However, for students with specific questions related to course work, we encourage you to contact your individual professor and or advisor. For faculty with academic-related questions, please contact Cheryl Jacobsen, academic dean.

Please continue to monitor your emails and check the Simpson College COVID19 webpage for updates.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions. #ONESimpson.

Thank you,
Bob Lane ‘81
Interim President