Tim Rahilly message to campus community

Posted May 1, 2020

Transcript

Hi everyone, it’s Tim, and I wanted to reach out to you again this week and check in.

I have to say that the social distancing guidelines and working at home are certainly a challenge. I don’t know if you’re like me, I am a little bit tired of staring at my monitor and the walls, but I do think it’s important that we stay vigilant with respect to these guidelines that have been given to us.

As we plan ahead, the University is looking at different scenarios. Again, as I’ve said before, we are going to have to pivot based on whatever instruction we get from the province and the Chief Medical Officer. I’m committed to share that information with you as soon as possible. I think it is important to remain hopeful about being able to return to campus; I know we’re all longing for that connection.

I wanted to, this week, acknowledge that the University has taken the extraordinary step to furlough some of our staff. They will get benefits, they are still part of our campus community and I think that’s really important for us to remember. This is a temporary measure and it’s based on function and not on the value of these people as humans. I think it’s important we stay connected with those folks, recognize the challenges that they are facing and recognize the challenges that their colleagues left behind are facing. I thank you, to the best of your ability, to understand this extraordinary, and, may I repeat, temporary step that we have undertaken.

I want to tell you that not a day goes by that I don’t think about all of you and the serious challenges that you are undertaking, the work that you are doing on behalf of our students who wouldn’t have made it through the semester without your hard work. Obviously I think about the challenges that we as an institution are facing, which are very much on my mind. I continue to work diligently to do my bit in my role to face them.

I hope that you are taking care of yourselves and you’re able to support and take care of those you love. I’ll do my best to stay in touch and I will speak to you soon.

Thank you.