News

I have worked my entire career in higher education and as a result, I have very specific memories and expectations for certain months in the academic year. August is always the time when we celebrate the start of another academic year. This spirit of celebration is even more important right now as the pandemic continues to create some uncertainties and questions about this upcoming fall semester.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted so many people and changed so many things that it can be easier to process it all in broad terms. In May and June schools and colleges developed plans to honor all of the recent graduates in new ways. Now as the next academic year approaches, schools and colleges are working to find learning solutions for all students. In the larger groups of graduates and students, though, are individual people whose lives have been impacted and plans dramatically changed.

Over the course of a few days in June, the Supreme Court of the United States issued two significant rulings; to sustain the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to provide employment protections for the LGBTQ+ community. These rulings come at a time when our nation and our community are focused on issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice.

As we begin our summer season, we can all agree that so far, 2020 has been an unimaginable year. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everything we do as individuals and as a community over just a few months. Now, in the past couple of weeks, we are experiencing another significant upheaval in response to the video and death of George Floyd.

My heart is filled with joy whenever I think of my experiences as a student and student trustee at Waubonsee Community College.

When I was asked to be the 2020 commencement faculty marshal for Waubonsee Community College, I was truly honored because commencement is my very favorite day of the school year. I envisioned myself leading Waubonsee faculty into the Field House followed by each of you as graduates walking in while your family and friends proudly watch. Then the crisis we never saw coming came. Coronavirus changed all of our lives and plans.

The month of May is a wonderful time for many college students. Graduates feel a sense of elation as they move on to the next phase of their academic or career journeys and other students enjoy a sense of accomplishment for all they have done in the year. We celebrate with all of those students.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the last few weeks have been many things; sobering, stressful, historic to name a few. We have all been affected in some—or many ways—by the virus or the changes it has forced on us. Because of the ever-changing circumstances all around us, we’ve had to be even more innovative in our thinking. We’ve had challenges and issues that none of us have ever seen before.

The outbreak of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has generated a range of emotions, feelings, and responses. At Waubonsee Community College, our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our students, employees, and community members. We are also committed to the continuation of teaching and learning and helping our students reach their educational goals, which includes successful completion of the spring 2020 semester.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has raised concerns and questions about health and prevention of diseases. There are many people working every day to lower the concerns and answer the questions about the coronavirus. Many of those people are health information management (HIM) professionals. With the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, the vital role of the health information professionals has become even more important.