A Message from President Carolyn J. Stefanco: Uncertainty That Reveals Our Strength

Life has certainly changed radically at The College of Saint Rose in just a month. The COVID-19 pandemic led us to move classes online for the rest of the Spring Semester, and our campus sits quiet at a time when it normally would bustle with spring events.

Meanwhile, Saint Rose, like colleges and universities throughout the country, has been presented with financial challenges as a result of the pandemic. It has forced some difficult decisions that apply to staff and administrators, including 61 furloughs (until June 28), pay reductions, and changes to vacation benefits.

While all of these changes caused disruption, and certainly are steps we wish we did not have to take, they remind us that during these difficult times it is important that we remain connected as a community.

I was happy to hold a Zoom video call with Dr. Alfredo Varela from Global Affairs and many of our international students, some of whom are away from their countries and families at a scary time for all of us. Students continue to meet with advisors or receive tutoring services in video chats. Alums play Saint Rose bingo on Instagram. All the while, student organizations host online meetings, social media challenges, and livestreamed events to remind us that we continue to be bonded, even when we are apart.

In the spirit of our founding, we have also continued to express concern for our greater community – donating supplies, including masks and gowns from our Health Services Center to Albany Medical Center, and assisting Chromebook distribution to School District of the City of Albany students who needed technology by providing Saint Rose backpacks for the computers.

HOME is really about the care we show to those around us, and it is needed more than ever in times such as these.

I wish you peace and good health in the coming days and weeks.

Best wishes,

Carolyn