Our workplace and classrooms may look a bit different this week, but NSU staff and faculty members have not wavered from our mission to foster academic excellence, intellectual inquiry, leadership, research, and commitment to community.

As of Monday, March 23, all NSU classes and student services—including academic counseling, financial aid, admissions, and more—resumed in an online capacity. We want to assure you that the university is fully operational even as we adhere to the guidelines of social distancing to keep our community safe. For more on how the university’s efforts to make this process as smooth as possible without interruption, please watch NSU President Dr. Hanbury’s message on transitioning NSU to the “New Normal.”

This new normal has meant a similar transition to online services and classes for both the Mailman Segal Center (MSC) and the University School. MSC is using Zoom and one-on-one parent support calls to ensure its students receive developmentally appropriate curriculum. Virtual study halls are available for NSU students with autism, and the staff is working with Preschool Plus families to implement behavioral interventions at home. Online academic classes also continue. NSU University School also began offering online classes starting this past Monday. The alternative education plan is currently in effect until April 16, and that date will be reassessed as additional information becomes available.

Not surprisingly, NSU researchers are on the forefront of providing information and leadership in response to the pandemic. Dr. Nancy Klimas, Director of NSU’s Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine at NSU is one of those researchers, and she offers advice to Gulf War veterans coping with chronic conditions on how to take extra precautions during the COVID-19 outbreak. We can all learn from her expertise and heed her recommendations on how to prevent the spread of the virus and strengthen your immune system. She also provides useful information on what to do if think you may have contracted COVID-19.

Unfortunately, this new normal has caused an interruption to all face-to-face events and activities. Our sports seasons ended far earlier than intended, and Athletic Director Mike Mominey offered a message on how NSU Athletics has responded to the current situation.

We do miss being able to see all of our NSU family face-to-face, but as a university, we are known for innovation. We will find creative ways to stay in touch and provide updated information and resources to our donors. Thank you again for supporting the university as we all adapt to our new normal. I firmly believe Dr. Hanbury’s message that “… we will continue to swim forward—like a shark—and be stronger than ever.”

Stay safe and please reach out if you have any questions,

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D.

Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations

joa@nova.edu  |  954-647-1527