The last few weeks have brought sweeping changes to all of our lives and our campus has responded in earnest to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Each day continues to bring new changes and, while things are different (very different), what has not changed, and what never wavers, is our campus’s steadfast commitment to our students’ well-being and success.

While the IU Northwest buildings may be closed, our campus is still very much open. Our faculty are leading classes virtually, our students continue to collaborate, and our staff are still very much committed to helping our students finish the academic year #iunstrong.

We have put together a special edition of Inside IUN to share how COVID-19 has changed and challenged us as a community.

Within this e-newsletter, you will see our ‘RedHawk Resilience’ shine: from stories highlighting how our campus has come together, to accounts of students, alumni and faculty joining the pandemic fight, some even on the front lines of help…and hope.

And during this unprecedent time, another historical milestone was announced for our campus. In August, Dr. Ken Iwama will join our campus as the next IU Northwest Chancellor. Dr. Iwama is the Vice President for Economic Development, Continuing Studies and Government Relations at The City University of New York, College of Staten Island. I have every confidence that, when Dr. Iwama joins our campus, he, too, will witness our continued commitment to our students and the Northwest Indiana community.

Lastly, in trying times, like now, it is important to think of ways to help others. Today, I write to remind you of the help many IU Northwest students need.

As announced recently by President Michael M. McRobbie, many IU and IU Northwest students are facing hardships well beyond their academics. For some, their challenges are rooted in basic human needs and necessities. We are hearing of students facing food insecurity, unexpected medical expenses, the inability to pay for housing, lack of adequate and safe child care, and limited access to information technology. To learn more about how you can help, please click here.

As our students finish up their semester, I wish to give a special ‘shout out’ to our Class of 2020, our bicentennial class. I urge them, and I hope you will too, that, despite the current situation, they should not lose sight of the significance of what they have achieved. In our May Inside IUN issue, we will celebrate their accomplishments.

Until then, may you continue to find strength in family, friends and IU Northwest memories that you hold dear. With our great community of support–which undoubtedly includes you–we will get through this very rough time.

Thank you.