Franklin Pierce University Welcomes the Class of 2024
Aug 18, 2020
|
Beginning on Sunday, August 16, and continuing yesterday, members of the University’s staff and administration eagerly welcomed new students to their new homes on Franklin Pierce’s 1,200-acre campus in Rindge. While unlike past move-in days, the arrival of students and their families proved that some things never change. In the shadow of Mount Monadnock excited members of the Class of 2024 and their families completed what is always an energetic move-in process, greeted roommates and new friends, and marked the occasion with photos and more than a few happy tears. Upon arriving all students were tested for COVID-19, while family members were reminded of University’s requirements to wear masks and socially distance ‒ with the exception of immediate family members ‒ while on campus. “Seeing the joy of our newest Ravens as they arrived on campus over the past two days
validated in so many ways the tremendous steps taken by Franklin Pierce’s administration,
faculty and staff to safeguard the well-being of all involved and provide the college
experience our students so desperately want,” said Andrew Pollom, Dean of Student
Affairs. “There is no denying that things are different this year, but given the high
spirits of the Class of 2024 and their families, it’s clear that the testing process
and safety requirements we put in place brought comfort without dampening the spirit
of Raven Nation.”
In addition to testing all students upon their arrival on campus and requiring the use of face masks, Franklin Pierce initiated a number of guidelines to maximize the safety not only of students, faculty and staff members, but also surrounding communities during the fall term. Chronicled in the “Ravens Return” section of the University’s website and covered in materials and conversations with students and parents, the requirements govern everything from class sizes, dining hall processes, ongoing testing requirements, and rules for any interactions off campus. Notably, all of Franklin Pierce’s COVID-19 protocols for the incoming freshman class were refined through experience. Students in the University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program ‒ dedicated to training health care professionals for rural and medically under-served communities ‒ and those in its Doctor of Physical Therapy program, returned to in-person instruction this summer. This included students at Franklin Pierce’s academic centers in Lebanon and Manchester, N.H. and Goodyear, Ariz. “None of us could have predicted the circumstances we would face in 2020, but our students, faculty and staff have shown from the beginning that together we can quickly and effectively adapt,” said President Kim Mooney. “The Class of 2024 has already shown the spirit and adaptability that is such a hallmark of Raven Nation. The guidelines we have put in place and which the Class of 2024 has embraced are crucial requirements we must continue to live by on campus, but they will by no means define us. We have an entire term ahead of us that will deliver the enriching learning experiences we celebrate at Franklin Pierce. I look forward to a great fall semester together!” Returning students will continue to move in today and tomorrow. Classes will begin on Thursday, August 20. |
|
