I want to take a few moments to reflect back and look to what's next as we wrap up our 2019-20 academic year.

These past few months have brought exceptional challenges. Moving our classes and events online, cutting short our spring athletics season and missing out on the excitement of finishing our academic year together at Remsen Street – particularly for our spring 2020 graduates – was not what any of us envisioned last September. Thank you for the grace and flexibility you have shown during this time. Our Franciscan values of kindness and generosity have been on full display, and I am grateful for that.

I want to assure you that St. Francis College will return this fall to offer an exceptional education for our students. We maintain committed to creating a fulfilling experience for all of you, with a small, vibrant and diverse community, one where we still know each other's names, where the faces of your fellow Terriers are familiar.

I know many of you are wondering how exactly things will work for our next academic year.

I wish I had every answer for you right now, but the truth is much depends on how the pandemic progresses and what guidelines and protocols we receive from federal, state and local governmental agencies. Our priority will always be to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community.

Please know that we are preparing deliberately for all possible scenarios and will act promptly once guidelines are outlined by government officials. So, while our hope and intent is to see each of you in person at 180 Remsen Street, at this moment we cannot responsibly say that is what will happen.

Our ultimate goal, as always, is to provide students the opportunity to engage intellectually with their classmates and professors, to explore new pathways and career opportunities, and to achieve their potential. As we like to repeat, "we aspire to create a learning environment where everyone belongs, where every member of our community has the opportunity to dream, serve and achieve."

I want to encourage you to take advantage of the challenges we are facing to become more resilient, more creative and more resourceful. Building habits, dispositions and skills to deal with crisis will always pay off in the end. As folks like to remind us, "when the world gives you lemons, make lemonade." Don't forget that true leaders distinguish themselves in the most challenging times.

We will remain in regular contact with you and know that our administrative offices are open to answer your questions.

Stay well and stay safe. You will hear from me soon.

Miguel Martinez-Saenz

President