Dear Alumni and Friends,
In a time of such uncertainty, I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it has touched all of us in differing but profound ways. During this time, I want to thank you for your support, including your prayers and encouragement, as well as share information with you regarding Fresno Pacific’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures the university is taking to mitigate its impact.
SERVICE TO STUDENTS
Students are the heart of what we do and who we are at FPU. In the interest of the health and safety of all at Fresno Pacific, we closed all of our physical campuses and moved to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring semester, as well as some of our summer sessions. While not physically on campus, our faculty, staff and administrators continue their service remotely in support of our students, with only a minimal number of employees working on campus. Though a large majority of our students have moved back home, our residence halls, dining and some academic and recreational facilities remain open for students who have chosen to stay on campus or who are unable to get home during this time. Our Sunbird Pantry also remains operational to provide food to students who find themselves facing food insecurities.
COMMENCMENT
With the health and safety of the greater Fresno Pacific community in mind, we have moved our spring commencement, scheduled for May 9, to December 12. This special day will be even more special, as we will celebrate all our 2020 grads, both our spring and fall graduating classes, together in one ceremony.
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY
On-Site Counseling and the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Fresno Pacific are providing free telehealth counseling sessions to anyone in the FPU community until mid-June. This includes students, staff and faculty at all campuses, as well as their immediate family members. Also, to support those on the front line fighting for health and safety, MFT-trainees are offering free counseling for any first responders and health care professionals through this same time. If you know someone who is seeking counseling and falls into one of these categories, please share this information with them. Appointments can be made by calling the On-Site referral line at 559-453-8050 or email onsite@fresno.edu.
WAYS TO CONNECT
While this health crisis has challenged all of us to think, learn, work and live differently, I am incredibly proud of the greater Fresno Pacific community and extremely grateful for our ability to come together and support one another. At times like these, we stop to assess what’s important and how we can support and encourage those around us. I encourage you as members of the Fresno Pacific family to reach out to one another by phone, email or social media to check in with each other. The Office of University Advancement is available for your questions or to assist in connecting with one another. You can connect with us by email at alumni@fresno.edu or call 559-453-2236.
CALL TO PRAYER
As we shelter in place, as we wonder about the future, we continue to pray. There are so many to pray for: our students and their families; our faculty, staff, administrators and supporters; those who have and are at-risk for Coronavirus; and our churches, leaders and health care workers and others on the front lines of this pandemic. If we can be in prayer for you, we would be honored if you let us know how we can pray. Along with the latest university updates related to COVID-19, along with daily prayers written by our own faculty and staff, we also have a prayer request form available for you to fill out at www.fresno.edu/coronavirus.
There are challenges ahead for Fresno Pacific, but I am confident we are proceeding wisely, and we will always, of course, look to our merciful God for guidance. I am reminded of the wisdom and comfort of Deuteronomy 31:8: “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
May God grant us all peace and wisdom.
Sincerely,
Joseph Jones, Ph.D.
President