Dear SMU Community,
It cannot be said too often that the health and well-being of our faculty and staff are of vital importance to me and to the University we serve. We value your work, your sense of mission, and the individual talents you bring to the table. As we complete the first cycle of staff telecommuting arrangements, SMU remains committed to adjusting our campus operations, as needed, to meet the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and to best support our community. To reflect the most current guidance from the CDC and the State of Texas, the University is revising and expanding its guidelines for flexible work arrangements. Please access the new information here.
I want to thank you again for the careful and supportive way you have helped SMU prepare for the resumption of on-campus instruction this summer and fall, working with us to follow evolving CDC guidelines and governmental instructions. While a relatively modest number of students will join us on campus in July, we have every indication that our students are eager to return to campus in the fall. Our planning reflects the energy our students are sharing, with the understanding that we may need to adapt to future changing conditions.
I also want to thank the University community for engaging in meaningful dialogue to help members of the President’s Executive Council refine our processes. It is our goal to be prepared for a strong, well-attended fall semester beginning in August.
I am proud of the SMU family and look forward to our continuing work together as we meet these extraordinary challenges.
Sincerely,
R. Gerald Turner
President