Loyola University Maryland created a web page addressing the mental health effects of coronavirus.
Resident Assistants at Carlow University are using their creativity to provide comfort during the pandemic.
In an effort to provide assistance to its students during this time of hardship, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will be paying all student workers for wages they would have earned for the month of April 2020.
Assumption College is establishing a $3 million fund to provide additional financial aid for students whose families are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of loss of employment, furloughs, reduction in hours, and other factors.
Francis Campbell, vice chancellor of The University of Notre Dame Australia, posted a video message, announcing the creation of a new Student Hardship Emergency Fund, as well as new academic programs driven in part by the pandemic.
Distance has not deterred the Marquette University Counseling Center, which is offering 24-hour telephone services, as well as resources for students such as managing stress, coping with social distance, and looking after themselves and others.
Campus Operations
The University of Dayton is offering virtual campus visits to prospective high school students and transfer students.
In Florida, Barry University is also offering virtual campus tours.
Commencements
On May 15, Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, conferred degrees on graduates via a live-streamed event. When it is safe to gather, Villanova will honor its graduates in person. See also the PowerPoint presentation on Villanova's commencement, under Virtual Meetings, above.
Walsh University created a video presentation, including a virtual rendition of its alma mater by the Walsh Chamber Singers, commencement addresses, and well wishes to graduates.
Molloy College will hold a virtual graduation ceremony on May 18, when President Drew Bogner will give his final commencement address at Molloy after 20 years of service.
A Santa Clara University senior writes about moving from grief to gratitude as graduation day nears.
Xavier University's online Jesuit Resource offers Graduation Resources, featuring quotes, prayers, and links to work and service opportunities.
On the day and time that its graduaes would have processed for spring commencement, Ohio Dominican University launched a website to celebrate and recognize the Class of 2020.
Newman University posted its virtual commencement for spring 2020 graduates to YouTube. The commencement speaker’s closing remarks are particularly moving.
The virtual commencement ceremony at Saint Xavier University included honors for outstanding student leaders, organizations, and achievements in service and extracurricular involvement. Graduates were also greeted by several celebrity cameos.
Supporting the Local Community
Professors at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, in cooperation with the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, have prepared a fact sheet to explain the recently enacted CARES Act, enabling local bankers to help customers acquire their share of support.
The Catholic University of America's Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship has committed to offering one-on-one coaching, virtual workshops, virtual happy hours and more to help small business owners in Washington, DC navigate through the crisis.
Among other efforts at Marquette University, its 707 Hub has been collaborating with partners throughout Milwaukee to offer several programs that are assisting small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saint Leo University is offering free enrichment courses to help the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Faculty members representing a variety of degree programs will teach 10 self-paced courses on an array of topics ranging from budget baking and backyard birding to quarantine spirituality for the family.
The University of St. Thomas has formed a partnership with the local Houston Food Bank to help fill the pantries of students, faculty, staff, and neighbors experiencing food insecurities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Online Learning
Sacred Heart University’s Alumni Association is hosting weekly online discussions for parents, educators, and administrators about successfully homeschooling children during this time of self-isolation. The dean of SHU’s Isabelle Farrington College of Education moderates the talks with education professionals every Thursday at 11 a.m. on alumni’s Facebook page.
A professor from The Catholic University of America offers 7 tips for taking on-the-ground courses online.
A blog from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College includes a three-part series showing how the institution pivoted into online learning with ease due to its over 40 years in distance education..
An expert from Seton Hall University provides seven tips for parents homeschooling children with autism during the pandemic.
St. Norbert College launched a free online tutoring initiative for K-12 students around the country.
Our Lady of the Lake University education majors are helping Independent School Districts in San Antonio, Texas. with remote learning, providing support to students, teachers, and parents.
Caldwell University’s Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis has developed a new telehealth program to meet the needs of learners with autism during the pandemic.
Providence University in Taiwan is providing online courses for students who cannot enter the country due to travel restrictions and for those under mandatory home isolation. A full-scale distant learning option is also on reserve.
The University of St. Thomas in Houston is offering free tuition to students in three new online associate degree programs.
General
Saint Xavier University's core values of compassion, service, respect, and hospitality are illustrated through its dedicated faculty, staff, and students, who are working in multiple ways to meet the needs of the community during this unprecedented time.
When Georgetown University closed its campus to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among students and staff, university administration contacted Aramark and Bon Appetit, the food service contractors that staff the campus cafeterias and restaurants, to ensure that their employees were paid through the scheduled end of the semester.
On March 26, Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted the online dialogue, "Catholic Social Thought and the Coronavirus Crisis." View the archived presentation online.
An Occupational Therapy student at Seton Hall University is drawing attention to the need to help the elderly navigate online activities in the midst of social distancing.
A graduate student at Georgian Court University goes "from homeless to hopeful" and finds light during the pandemic.
As people continue to follow social distancing guidelines by working from home, students in the Catholic University of America School of Architecture and Planning have been studying how their homes are affecting their emotions and cognitive abilities.
Manhattan College has launched the "Jaspers on a Mission" campaign, which highlights the efforts of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and alumni who continue to bring to life the Lasallian Catholic mission of the college in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
News Articles Featuring ACCU Members
How these colleges are marketing to admitted students during COVID-19 (University Business, March 24, 2020)
Catholic universities, and a high school, donate medical supplies to hospitals (National Catholic Reporter, March 26)
Ritual, Rhythm, Community: Everything Higher Ed Does Best, the Coronavirus Attacks (Chronicle of Higher Education, March 27; subscriber-only content)
How not to get overwhelmed by the pandemic (Religion News Service, March 30)
White Ribbons: 'I Will Never Forget You' (Catholic News Agency, March 31)
Marymount professor creates reusable face shields for hospital workers (WTOP, April 2)
Commentary: Private Colleges Deserve Fair Share of Relief Package (Rivard Report, April 3)
With students gone, U-Mary embraces a new mission: a field hospital for coronavirus patients (Bismarck Tribune, April 9)
For some colleges, missing the fall semester may be just the tip of the iceberg (CNN, April 15)
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Redux: All Educational Institutions Should Include Instilling “Serving Others” in Their Mission (Forbes, April 16)
'On Eagle's Wings' composer pens new song inspired by life during COVID-19 (KARE-TV, April 21)
The Church in Action (Chicago Catholic, April 22)
Catholic universities extend hand to Catholic hospitals, health care staff during pandemic (Catholic Health World, April 27)
Will college campuses open in the fall? If they do, expect changes: ‘All of this is uncharted waters’ (Chicago Tribune, April 28, 2020)
President of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, Miguel Martinez-Saenz, talks about the effect of the pandemic on immigrant students (see segment 3) (WABC-TV, May 3)
Assumption University to emerge amid formidable challenges to higher education (University Business, May 1).
Catholic college graduations: No pomp, but a lot of circumstance this year (Catholic News Service, May 14)