From Marist College:
Marist Moves Classes Online, Closes Residence Halls
Due to Growing Concerns Over Coronavirus
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY—Yesterday Marist College President Dennis Murray announced the College was moving all classes online beginning March 30 for the remainder of the semester due to growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
In announcing the decision, President Murray noted that he and the College’s senior leadership team had been guided bythe best advice of healthcare professionals and recommendations from New York State and local government officials. “We have not made these decisions lightly, and this is certainly not the outcome we had hoped for when the coronavirus crisis began,” President Murray said. “The Marist community thrives on personal interaction, engagement, friendships, and mutual support, and those are made more challenging by these decisions.”
Residence halls will be closed with very limited exceptions for international students and students with specific academic obligations that necessitate residency at the College. With so few students in residence halls, the College will be able to create housing arrangements that adhere to social distancing practices.
“We find ourselves in an unprecedented global health crisis, and the safety of all members of the Marist community must be paramount. We are committed not only to ensuring everyone’s safety, but to ensuring that all students have the best possible academic experience under these difficult circumstances,” President Murray noted in an email to students. “Like you, I am saddened that it has come to this, but I hope you understand that these actions have become necessary. Despite the current challenges, Marist remains a tight-knit community, and I know we will all continue to support one another as we weather this storm.”
The College established a dedicated coronavirus webpage, which has been updated regularly throughout the crisis.
About Marist
Located on the banks of the historic Hudson River and at its Florence, Italy campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” Marist is consistently ranked among the best colleges and universities in America by The Princeton Review (Colleges That Create Futures and The Best 385 Colleges),U.S. News & World Report(5th Most Innovative School/North),Kiplinger’s Personal Finance(“Best College Values”), and others. The College is top-ranked for long-term study abroad (#3 in the U.S.) by the U.S. State Department’s Open Doors report. The College also operates the Institute for Data Center Professionals, which provides individuals and corporate teams with skills-based education and credentialing to support the data center and enterprise computing environments of the future. Marist educates more than 5,000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1,400 adult and graduate students in 47 undergraduate majors and numerous graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees, and also Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant programs.www.marist.edu