From the WCSU Alumni Association President

To all WCSU Alumni:

It is the Alumni Association’s greatest wish that you all stay safe and healthy during this difficult experience that we are all going through together. What makes the COVID-19 pandemic such a difficult challenge for so many of us is the uncertainty that comes with this disease. As individuals, we can take all the proper precautions necessary for social distancing, but we potentially are all at risk with no definitive time line as to when life as we had known can return. The Alumni Association hopes that you all have the strength, wisdom and commitment to support yourselves and your family through this difficult time.

As many of you know, the COVID-19 virus has turned the WCSU academic year on its head as students were required to leave the dorms and be educated through online lessons by the faculty. The alumni would like to recognize both the students and the WCSU faculty for being able to adapt to this new learning style and for making such outstanding efforts to make the best of a very difficult situation. It has caused the May graduation ceremony to be cancelled and of course, all the wonderful interactions that take place for the athletic teams, the clubs, and all aspects of college life had to be put on hold. Many organizations, such as the Student Government Association and other clubs still have been meeting through video conferencing and moving forward with setting future plans.

For the Alumni Association, this too is a very disappointing time as we had just completed some very successful events that drew many alumni back to campus to interact with the students such as our second annual Meet & Greet event on February 25, 2020. We had extensive plans for the spring semester in having alumni return to campus in various academic disciplines such as Justice & Law, Psychology and other various majors to be on panels to discuss career options and experiences with the students. The Alumni Association was looking forward to working with the graduating seniors as they prepared for their year-end graduation celebration including hosting the Graduate Salute where they would have been receiving their caps and gowns.

At the current time, we are aware that there is considerable discussion at the university in conjunction with the alumni to offer to the graduates a meaningful experience to recognize their accomplishments which may include the potential of hosting an alternative graduation ceremony at an appropriate time. In addition, the Alumni Association has joined with the WCSU April 3, 2020 Foundation, the Student Government Association, and Dr. Clark in seeking contributions for various student needs that have resulted from the impact of the Coronavirus and are asking alumni to join us in helping to financially assist the best that you can.

The university president, Dr. John Clark, has been instrumental in working with Connecticut’s governor and the state to have the university serve as a resource. Fairfield Hall has been made available for healthcare workers to have a site for them to reside away from their families while they are attending to the needs of so many patients at Danbury Hospital and other local care facilities. The O’Neill Center, with the assistance of the National Guard, has been turned into a supplemental healthcare facility for patients as well which requires the university’s food service and other facility managers to be directly involved in assisting. What an excellent way of mobilizing our resources to assist in this crisis!

Most importantly, the Alumni Association would like to express our greatest gratitude for so many of the healthcare workers, especially the WCSU alumni nurses who are serving their community. Each one of them puts their life at risk to help others and they are a true reflection of giving your talent and skills in their service to others. At a later date, the Alumni Association hopes to have a special recognition for these nursing graduates, especially since 2020 is the celebration of the 50th year of nursing graduates from WCSU.

On behalf of the Alumni Association, stay safe.
Stay healthy.
Sincerely,

Western Connecticut State University : 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810