Hi everyone, I'm Jim Ryan. This has been a long and extraordinary week filled with
plenty of sadness and sacrifice, but also dedication and determination as well as
kindness and compassion. As we close a chapter on this historic week I'd just
like to take a moment to recount what we've all been through and also, most
importantly, to thank all of you. This has been a week of sadness and loss for
students who learned we would be online all semester and would not be able to
proceed with graduation. For faculty and staff who were told to work at home if
they could and who will have to forego seeing their friends and colleagues in
person and for members of our community who are facing financial hardship. For
all of you, I am genuinely sorry, at the same time I'm grateful for those of you
who are willingly making sacrifices for the benefit of others and that's
especially true of our students. As you well know the steps we're taking and the
steps you're taking are less about you than they are about helping others who
are much more at risk from the virus, but make no mistake your sacrifices, even
if it's not immediately apparent to you, are undoubtedly saving lives, but this
just hasn't been a week of sadness and sacrifice it's also been a week of
Herculean effort and innovation. Consider the students who, even as they process
their own grief, created the Hoos Helping Hoos network that connects
students who need assistance with members of the community who can offer
it or consider the spectacular faculty and staff who, with creativity, intense
work and good cheer, found a way to take 4200 classes online in a week. A week!
That seemed impossible just seven days ago or consider the faculty from across
Grounds who've offered their expertise on a range of topics from the physics
professor who posted a video on social distancing to the history professor who
encourages students to create a record of life during the pandemic to the
faculty who have shared advice and everything from home school and your
kids to coping during a quarantine and this has been a week of remarkable
dedication. We saw staff from Student Affairs, RMC, Facilities Management
and the police department pull together to help students move out of
their dorms. We saw a team from Student Financial Services who, in less than 24
hours, created a system to help students who need financial assistance traveling
home. We saw a team from across the entire University work together to get a
COVID19 Clinic up and running in record time.
And we saw colleagues from Information and Technology Services work to prepare
for and support online classes from 6:30 in the morning until 9:00 o'clock at
night every day this week and this has been a week of remarkable support and
compassion. Our alumni have reached out asking how they can help and have
offered to host students who need a place to live. Our parents have
encouraged their students to come home and have donated to the Student Life and
Leadership Fund which is helping to make sure that every student has what they
need to finish the semester away from Grounds. And if I may pause to offer a
special word to our parents with three, yes three, college-age sons at home, I
share your joy at having this unexpected time with your children, your
apprehension about how long that joy will last and your sorrow for what your
children are missing, but I also share your confidence in their resilience and,
like you, I'm hoping that we will be able to figure out a way to host graduation
ceremonies at UVA at a later date as I would very much like the opportunity to
march down the Lawn with your children. More on that particular topic soon.
Finally, this week has made it clear just how incredibly fortunate we are to work
alongside the team at the Health System. Our challenges and sacrifices, as great
as they might be, pale in comparison to those facing our Health System
colleagues and they have more than risen to the task. This includes those who make
the Hospital run by, among other things, stocking carts, cleaning floors and
helping people get where they need to go. It includes the researchers who have
developed a test for the coronavirus on Grounds, the first local test in Virginia
and one that reduces the amount of time it takes to get a result from days to
hours and includes the doctors and nurses who have volunteered to care for
patients with the virus, potentially risking their own health to save others.
For this extraordinary week and for all those who helped us through it, I'd like
to extend my deepest gratitude. I know my executive leadership team which includes
our Provost Liz Magill, our COO J.J. Davis and our EVP for Health Affairs Craig
Kent, feel exactly the same way. This is a week like no other, but in some ways it
was a week that felt familiar as it brought forth the values that are
fundamental to this University at its very best,
selflessness, dedication, compassion and a willingness to serve. Those values have
always been a part of who we are and this week they were on vivid display.
This week was in some ways the end of the beginning.
We are facing something that none of us ever has, something like a snow day that
will last weeks or months. We still have a long way to go and I'm sure it's going
to get harder before it gets easier. Let us proceed with compassion for others
especially those who are most at risk and most vulnerable. Let us proceed with
understanding and forgiveness for those trying to make the very best of a
difficult situation and let us proceed with recognition of our common humanity.
So thank you once again for everything you've done and everything you will do.
I've been a part of this community for thirty years, I have never felt more
fortunate to be a part of it than I do today. I've said before and I will say
again that my highest aspiration for this University is that we will be the
ones of whom had said they are not just great they are also good. This week I saw
up close just what great and good looks like. Thank you.