Dear Colleagues:

I write today with important information on two significant administrative changes here at Monmouth. Effective June 30, 2021, Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Vice President and Director of Athletics, and Patricia (Patti) Swannack, Vice President for Administrative Services, will be retiring from Monmouth after long and storied careers in their respective areas. While I am reluctant for these colleagues to depart in June after a collective 73 years of service to the University, I am delighted for them to reap the benefits and enjoyments of a well-earned retirement.

Dr. Marilyn McNeil joined Monmouth in 1994 as the Director of Athletics, and over her 28-year tenure at the university, has elevated our Division 1 Athletics program into one of the premier mid-major programs in the country. And, during her time at Monmouth, Dr. McNeil has developed a winning culture on the field of play and in the classroom. She has helped lead the Hawks to 119 regular season conference championships and 38 team appearances in various NCAA tournaments, while at once setting program records for team GPA scores and Graduation Success Rates among our student-athletes. In addition to these laudable efforts in fostering a positive and winning student-athlete experience, Dr. McNeil has also demonstrated a notable commitment to gender equity and Title IX compliance in athletics – both at Monmouth and at the national level. Dr. McNeil has been a leader on this campus for nearly three decades, as well as a leader throughout intercollegiate athletics nationally, and her influence on Monmouth will be felt for decades to follow.

Patricia Swannack has dedicated her entire professional career to the advancement of Monmouth University. VP Swannack first joined Monmouth’s human resources department in 1975 and, after a series of promotions, was elevated to her current position of Vice President for Administrative Services in 1994, overseeing the departments of campus planning and construction, facilities management, human resources, student employment, and the University police department. Under her leadership and guidance, the University has performed over $325 million in construction and renovation projects, many of which have garnered national accolades for excellence in sustainability. A dedicated employee and loyal alumna of the University, VP Swannack received the Stafford Presidential Award of Excellence in 2004, as well as the Alumni Service Award in 2005. VP Swannack has been a steady and thoughtful leader on this campus for over four decades, and her many contributions to Monmouth will be celebrated for generations to come.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside Dr. McNeil and VP Swannack during my early years at Monmouth – two exceptional administrators whose commitment to Monmouth is incomparable, and whose contributions towards gender equity at Monmouth are remarkable. We will have ample opportunity to celebrate their dedication to Monmouth before June 30, but I wanted to share this news now, in order to effectively plan for these significant retirements. We will begin the search process for each position in the coming months, and I will continue to share updates with the University community as they become available. For now, please join me in thanking Dr. McNeil and VP Swannack for the indelible mark that each has left on our cherished University.

Thank you.

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

Dear Monmouth University Community:

Today, while our country processes the events of the last few weeks and prepares to inaugurate a new president, we pause to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his courageous example of social activism. Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and racial equality should inspire all of us here at Monmouth to consider the weight of our words and the impact of our actions as we pursue a more diverse, more equitable, and more inclusive community.

To this end, I hope you will join the university community on Wednesday, January 27 to honor Dr. King’s legacy at the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Social Justice, and hear from one of today’s leading scholars on anti-racist research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. As we prepare to start a new semester in the days ahead, and to host Dr. Kendi’s virtual visit to campus, I am heartened by Dr. King’s declaration, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”

Together, we must continue to commit ourselves to carrying out Dr. King’s dream to build a country and a community free from bias, bigotry, racism, and hate. And, thanks to continuing efforts on our campus to foster a truly inclusive community, I am hopeful for the semester to come.

Enjoy the holiday!

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

Despite the dismaying events of last week, I hope that the new year has brought you renewed energy and good health. As we prepare to welcome a new semester on January 25, I write to share reminders and updates on our plans for the spring.

Academic Affairs

Academic Schedule: The spring 2021 academic calendar is available online. In an effort to mitigate the risk of virus spread at the height of cold and flu season, we have delayed the semester start to Monday, Jan. 25. This postponement, coupled with the public health objective of preventing non-essential travel, has required us to eliminate the traditional spring break. In lieu of a weeklong spring break, the spring academic schedule incorporates “break days” in March and April. This adjusted schedule allows us to maintain our typical 14-week semester, which will end at its regularly scheduled time in early May.

Course Delivery: Course delivery methods for the spring will closely resemble those offered in the fall, with a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online delivery, designed to accommodate as many individual student preferences as possible. Students can access individual class schedules by logging into their Personal Academic Information section in WebAdvisor for details on course modalities for specific scheduled classes. Students should contact their faculty advisor or department chair directly with any questions or concerns. While we may not be able to completely satisfy the preferred schedule of every student, our faculty advisors and department chairs stand ready to address any questions or concerns.

Academic Support Services: All academic support services offered through the Center for Student Success – including advising, tutoring, career development and disability services – will remain available throughout the semester in a combination of in-person and virtual sessions.

Flexible Grading Policy: The Faculty Council will make a decision in a few weeks about continuing the Pass/Fail grading option for the spring 2021 semester, which will be communicated as soon as it is available.

Global Education: The spring 2021 semester Study Abroad programming, Global Seminars, and Global Experience programs remain suspended. Given the uncertainties of COVID-19, we strongly suggest that employees and students avoid travel during the spring 2021 semester.  Exceptions to the suspension of Monmouth-sponsored employee travel must be approved by each area vice president.

Campus Living and Learning

Residential Life: We will continue to offer on-campus housing and meal plans for all interested students. Students who deferred or cancelled fall 2020 housing contracts and have reconsidered their decision may reinstate room assignments for the spring by emailing reslife@monmouth.edu. Residence halls will continue to follow all previously prescribed community standards, including visitation limits and participation in COVID-19 surveillance testing.

COVID-19 Testing: All residential students, as well as students enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses, are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test within seven days preceding the start of the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 25. If a student is positive for COVID-19, they should not return to campus until they have completed the required 10-day isolation period. Any student in this situation must also contact the Department of Health Services at health@monmouth.edu to inform the University of their health status.

If a residential student or student enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses is unable to obtain a test in the seven days prior to their return to campus, they are required to be tested on campus within the first 72 hours (three days) of their return. We will be initiating a new pooled testing program for all residential students and will continue to provide routine testing of student athletes throughout the spring semester. Students residing off campus are also encouraged to participate in the pooled surveillance testing program.

Flu Shot: In addition to COVID-19 testing, all residential students and all student-athletes are required to upload documentation that they have received a flu shot, or that they qualify for a flu shot exemption, to the Student Health Portal before returning to campus.

Travel Quarantine: Students traveling to Monmouth University from one of the impacted states on New Jersey’s travel advisory list or from outside the U.S. must quarantine in-state for 14 days prior to their arrival on campus. Residential students affected by these guidelines have been accommodated with an early arrival date to satisfy this quarantine requirement.

Students who reside internationally should be aware that effective January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

Dining: Dining services will continue to be available to all students, compliant with state guidelines. Limited indoor dining will be available in various locations, and we will continue to offer takeout meals and space for socially distanced outdoor dining as the weather permits. New menu items and food stations have been added to Magill Commons, including cooked-to-order omelets, rotisserie chicken, nightly pasta dishes, and a dessert and ice cream station. The mobile ordering app introduced in the fall will be available this spring for individuals to place to-go meal orders.

Student Activities: Our full range of clubs, organizations, and intramural/recreational activities will continue to operate on a virtual basis. When safely possible, we will consider limited in-person activity, in accordance with public health guidelines on social distancing and proper use of face masks. As the weather improves, we will make every effort to accommodate outdoor programming to safely allow for increased in-person student activities. The recruitment process for students looking to affiliate with a fraternity or sorority will also be held virtually.

Athletics Activities: University Athletics will resume practice and competition this spring for most sports, including fall sports teams whose practice and competition schedules were disrupted due to COVID-19. Coaches and student-athletes are required to follow guidelines set forth by the State of New Jersey, the NCAA, and the specific conferences in which they play. All formal practices and individual and small group training must be supervised by athletics staff.

Tuition and Fees

As a reminder, tuition and fees are fully refundable through Monday, Feb. 1, one week after the start of classes, and we will continue to offer pro-rated credit adjustments for housing and meal contracts through the spring semester. Students should contact bursar@monmouth.edu with any questions related to their spring bills.

Public Health

As always, these plans are predicated on current and prevailing public health guidance. If public health restrictions change, which subsequently affect plans for the spring semester, updated information will be communicated as quickly as possible.

To reduce the risk of virus spread, particularly during the height of cold and flu season, we will continue to require the proper use of face masks and social distancing of at least six feet. We also encourage all students and employees coming to campus to utilize the CampusClear symptom tracking app and COVID Alert NJ contact tracing app. As always, we urge anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to get promptly tested. The most current and comprehensive campus information, including daily dashboard data, is updated and available on our COVID-19 website.

The past several months have presented countless challenges, but I have been routinely encouraged by the goodwill and resolve of our University community in responding to them. If we continue to demonstrate the compassion and determination that has typified our community since its earliest days, I am confident that we will grow smarter and stronger – and even more exceptional – together. I appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together, and look forward to a successful spring semester with you. Please feel free to reach out to SpringRestart@monmouth.edu with any questions regarding our plans for the spring. Our team is ready to assist you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

These first days of 2021 have been more eventful than any of us could have ever anticipated. As we continue to combat an ongoing global pandemic, and persevere in the fight for racial justice, we witnessed last Wednesday an unprecedented and disgraceful attack on the United States Capitol and the basic tenets of democracy that undergird our rule of law and sense of community. Like so many of you, I have spent the past week reflecting on the attack on our Capitol, which was at once an attack on our democratic ideals and on our sense of justice and equality.

For me, this was also profoundly personal. As an undergraduate student in Washington, DC, I had the great privilege of interning on Capitol Hill for then-Senator Al Gore. The energy on the Hill was incredible, and experiencing a small glimpse of the inner workings of American Democracy at the highest level was a highlight of my college career. To see marauders breaking into that hallowed building was a sight I never imagined – then or now. I am deeply dismayed that a small mob could, for a moment, strip the Capitol of its standing as a symbol of the democratic principles that we hold so dear. I am equally disheartened that members of this mob, who attempted to disrupt the electoral process and the peaceful transfer of power, did so under the auspices of bigotry, bias, racism, and hate.

As an American, I condemn these acts in the strongest way possible. And, as an American, I am proud that our elected officials – Democrats and Republicans alike – reconvened to continue the people’s work, demonstrating the enduring strength of our American democracy. Our system of government bent last week, but it did not break.  

As an educator, I feel a desire to recommit myself, as well as the University I have the privilege of serving, to upholding our commitment to being a diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive community – the kind of academic community that represents the very best of America. I am encouraged by the good work on our campus to educate our citizenry, to develop the next generation of compassionate leaders, to uphold democratic ideals of free speech and mutual respect, and to foster a decidedly antiracist campus community. That is what it will take – in our own small corner of this vast nation – to help prevent an event like this from ever happening again.

These remain challenging times. As we continue winter break and prepare to resume our activities on January 25, please know that support services remain available for all members of the Monmouth University community who seek them. Counseling and Psychological Services and the Intercultural Center are just a phone or Zoom call away.

While our nation remains divided, let us continue to do our small part to heal it.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving break, let me take a moment to share my gratitude for all that you do to make Monmouth University such an exceptional community. I am grateful for your many contributions to the life of our university. Your strong commitment and service to Monmouth – even in these uncertain times – makes my job as President truly rewarding.

This has been a challenging year, but you have faced these untold challenges with both grit and grace. I appreciate the patience and flexibility that you have shown since the outset of the COVID-19 health crisis, and I am grateful for the steps that you have taken – big and small alike – to protect the safety and well-being of our community.

I offer my heartfelt thanks for all that you do to enrich our community, as well as my profound gratitude to all of your loved ones who support you throughout the year. As a small gesture of thanks, and to allow time to prepare for the holiday, I have provided for an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for all non-essential employees.

May your time together this Thanksgiving be joyful, restful, and safe. May you return to us replenished and ready for a successful end to the semester. Amy, the kids, and I wish you all the very best.

Pat
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

I write with details on Monmouth’s plans for the coming 2021 spring semester. As with all of our planning and decisions since the outset of the COVID-19 health crisis, our plans are guided by maintaining the safety of our community and are informed by collaborative discussions with public health officials and key stakeholder groups at the University. I believe that these plans are well-informed and reflect the best interests of our community.

Academic Affairs

Academic Schedule: The spring 2021 academic calendar has been updated and posted online. In an effort to mitigate the risk of virus spread at the height of cold and flu season, we have delayed the semester start to Monday, Jan. 25. This postponement, coupled with the public health objective of preventing non-essential travel, has required us to eliminate the traditional spring break. In lieu of a weeklong spring break, the spring academic schedule incorporates “break days” in March and April. This adjusted schedule allows us to maintain our typical 14 week semester, which will end when it normally does in early May.

Course Delivery: Course delivery methods for the spring will closely resemble those offered in the fall, with a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online delivery, designed to be as accommodating to individual student preferences as possible. Students can access individual class schedules by logging into their Personal Academic Information section in WebAdvisor for details on course modalities for specific scheduled classes. Students should contact their faculty advisor or department chair directly with any questions or concerns. While we may not be able to completely satisfy the preferred schedule of every student, our faculty advisors and department chairs stand ready to answer any questions about schedule adjustments. 

Academic Support Services: All academic support services offered through the Center for Student Success – including advising, tutoring, career development and disability services – will remain available throughout the semester in a combination of in-person and virtual sessions.

Flexible Grading Policy: The Faculty Council will make a decision early in the spring about continuing the Pass/Fail grading option for the spring 2021 semester.

Global Education: The spring 2021 semester Study Abroad programming, Global Seminars, and Global Experience programs remain suspended. Given the uncertainties of COVID-19, we strongly suggest that employees and students avoid travel during the spring 2021 semester.  Exceptions to the suspension of Monmouth-sponsored travel must be approved by each employee’s area vice president.

Campus Living and Learning

Residential Life: We will continue to offer on-campus housing and meal plans for all interested students. Students who deferred or cancelled fall 2020 housing contracts and have reconsidered their decision may reinstate room assignments for the spring by emailing reslife@monmouth.edu.  Residential halls will continue to follow all previously prescribed community standards, including visitation limits and participation in surveillance COVID-19 testing.

COVID-19 Testing: All residential students, as well as all students enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses, are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within seven days of the start of the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 25. Students impacted by the COVID-19 testing requirement will receive further instruction as we approach the start of the new semester.

Travel Quarantine: Students traveling to Monmouth University from one of the impacted states on New Jersey’s travel advisory list must quarantine in-state for 14 days prior to their arrival on campus. Residential students will be accommodated with an early arrival date to satisfy this quarantine requirement. Students affected by the quarantine requirement will be contacted by the Office of Residential Life with specific instructions prior to the start of the semester.

Dining: Dining services will continue to be available to all students, compliant with State guidelines. We hope to make limited indoor dining available and will continue to offer takeout meals and space for socially distanced outdoor dining as the weather permits.

Tuition Payment

Billing: Invoices for the spring 2021 semester will be sent electronically to students and their designated authorized user contacts beginning Monday, Nov. 23.  Payment deadline for the spring 2021 semester is Wednesday, Dec. 16. Students should contact bursar@monmouth.edu with any questions related to their spring bills. As a reminder, tuition and fees are fully refundable through Monday, Feb. 1, one week after the start of classes, and we will continue to offer pro-rated credit adjustments for housing and meal contracts through the spring semester.

Public Health

As always, these plans are predicated on current and prevailing public health guidance. If public health restrictions change, which subsequently affect plans for the spring semester, updated information will be communicated as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to SpringRestart@monmouth.edu with any questions regarding our plans for the spring semester. Our team is ready to assist you.

To reduce the risk of virus spread, we will continue to require the proper use of face masks and social distancing of at least six feet. We also encourage all students and employees coming to campus to utilize the CampusClear symptom tracking app and COVID Alert NJ contact tracing app. As always, we urge anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to get promptly tested. The most current and comprehensive campus information, including daily dashboard data, is updated and available on our COVID-19 website.

Monmouth is a University grounded in resilience and determination, and I have great faith that our community will continue to demonstrate these strengths in the months ahead. I am grateful for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together and look forward to a successful spring semester with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

At the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day, in the 11^th month of the year, we Americans pause and recognize our men and women in uniform – past and present – who have defended our freedom and constitutional rights. On this Veterans Day 2020 all of the members of the Monmouth University community join me in thanking them for their service to our country.

Today, especially, we thank all of the veterans who are part of Monmouth University, including the students, faculty, staff, and alumni whose public service continues to enhance the character of our community. In recent years our veterans have inspired new academic and outreach efforts including: our Military Bridge Program; a long collaboration with Frontline Paper; and the Coming Home Project, grounded in our School of Social Work. These are initiatives at Monmouth of which I am very proud.

I would also like to thank Michael Callahan, our director of Veteran Services and Student Support, for organizing today’s virtual Veterans Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. I hope you will join me at that time to hear from Michael and two more of our veterans – Michael Eck ’18 and Joshua Hartman ’22 – each of whom have served our country and university community in exemplary ways.

Please join me in thanking our men and women in the armed forces whose heroism protects our great nation. May their selfless acts inspire our own.

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy shares his thoughts on our responsibility to vote and his hopes for our country and our community in the days following the election.

Dear Monmouth University Community:

Thank you for your continuing cooperation and understanding as we have strived to make each decision related to our fall restart and ongoing campus operations with caution and consideration for the overall safety of our university community, and with as little disruption to the academic and student experience as possible. We deliberately waited until early November to make a final decision on our post-Thanksgiving plans to ensure that we had a clear understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on our campus community, as well as the most current recommendations from our state and local public health officials.

Thanks to the collective efforts of the university community, we have experienced a notable decrease in cases at Monmouth over the past month. However, we simultaneously recognize the rise in cases elsewhere in New Jersey and throughout the country. Consequently, following the Thanksgiving break, in-person and hybrid courses – with limited exceptions outlined below – will move to online delivery for the remainder of the fall semester, including the final exam period. This decision will result in reduced activity on campus, particularly as residential students will be given the option to stay home after the break, thereby helping to prevent future spread of the virus among our campus community.

The decision to shift to online delivery for most courses after Thanksgiving will have the following impact on academic services:

• Academic Course Delivery. Courses currently offered online will continue to be offered remotely. Exceptions are in-person or hybrid courses that are not amenable to remote delivery, including in-person clinical and field-based experiences. Faculty and students who are impacted directly by these exceptions will soon receive further instruction from their dean or department chair. We acknowledge that there have been a series of modifications to academic delivery this fall, and we appreciate your flexibility in helping to preserve the health and safety of our community.
• Flexible Grading Policy. Please recall that we have extended our flexible grading policy through the Fall 2020 semester, whereby students may opt to receive a letter or pass/fail grade for each course. When grading concludes, the registrar will provide additional information to students on grading and a link to the pass/fail e-form.

The decision to move most courses to online delivery after Thanksgiving will have the following limited impact on campus living and learning:

• Residential Life. All residential halls will remain open to students who wish to return to campus after Thanksgiving. If you are an on-campus residential student and choose to stay home after Thanksgiving, you will need to inform us of your decision by Friday, Nov. 13. The Office of Residential Life will follow-up soon by email with detailed instructions for this process. If you choose to leave university housing, you will receive prorated refunds or credits on unused room contracts, meal plans, and parking fees. All refunds and credits will be prorated for the period beginning Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 through the end of the semester. 
• Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing Requirements.
  • Individuals traveling to NJ/NY/CT/PA/DE: Pursuant to New Jersey’s 14-day quarantine travel advisory as of today, Nov. 2, if you will be visiting New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Delaware during Thanksgiving break, then you may return to campus without the requirement to quarantine. You will need to be tested for COVID-19 between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2. If you choose to be tested at a site other than the Ocean First Bank Center Lobby (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), then you must submit evidence of testing during this 72-hour period, along with test results, to health@monmouth.edu no later than Wednesday, Dec. 2. Individuals testing positive will be required to isolate, just as any individuals deemed at-risk through contact tracing efforts will be required to quarantine.
  • Individuals traveling to states and jurisdictions other than NJ/NY/CT/PA/DE: Pursuant to New Jersey’s 14-day quarantine travel advisory as of today, Nov. 2, if you will be visiting any of the states and jurisdictions on New Jersey’s travel advisory list, then we strongly encourage you to stay home after the break to avoid the required 14-day quarantine upon returning to campus. As an alternative, we can make accommodations for you to remain on campus over Thanksgiving break.
• Social Interactions. Social interactions will continue to be limited to five or fewer people. If these interactions take place indoors, masks must be worn and six feet or more of social distance must be maintained. Residential hall visitation restrictions will remain in effect.
• Health Center. The Health Center will remain open during this time. The additional testing site in the Ocean First Bank Center Lobby will also be open and providing free COVID-19 testing Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you feel ill and/or are presenting any COVID-19 symptoms, please make immediate arrangements to be tested.
• Library. The Guggenheim Memorial Library will be open with modified hours, and with reduced capacity to allow for social distancing. Computer use and study space will be available for students and the campus community following health and safety guidelines. Contactless book request and pickup service will continue.
• Pool and Fitness Center. The pool and fitness center will remain open, subject to mandatory health and safety protocols and previously prescribed restrictions on capacity.
• Dining. Limited indoor dining will continue, at 25% capacity, compliant with State guidelines. Masks are required at all times, except when eating, and social distancing must be maintained. Takeout and socially distanced outdoor seating will remain available on a modified basis. Hours of operation for dining services may also be modified based on demand.
• Computer Labs. Computer labs will remain open with modified hours. Users must maintain six feet or more of social distance and observe other health and safety protocols.
• Athletics. University athletic team activities will continue – including limited winter sports competition, formal practices, and individual and small group training – provided all activities are supervised by athletics staff.

All previously stated health and safety protocols will remain in effect during this period, including the mandatory use of face coverings and the required practice of social distancing. Upon extensive consultation with our public health officials and lengthy discussion with our key constituencies, we are confident that the decision to move academic programming primarily online, while continuing to offer on-campus residential and student services, will be the best move forward for our university community this fall.

I will be in touch again soon with a message detailing plans for the spring semester. In the meantime, you may continue to access the most current and comprehensive campus information, including daily dashboard data, by visiting our COVID-19 website. If you have any questions on plans for the remainder of the fall semester, please direct them to FallRestart@monmouth.edu.

Thank you for your continued flexibility as we navigate these challenging times together.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President