The major initiatives underway are exciting. We are welcoming new members to our academic community. We are breaking ground on buildings that will enhance student learning and engagement. We are operationalizing and developing our historic partnership with Hartford HealthCare. We are launching multiple initiatives that highlight the talent of our faculty, staff, and students, while providing additional support for all that you do.  
  
For all the excitement building around these new initiatives and opportunities, none of it would be possible without your longstanding energy, dedication, and commitment to our collective success. Your leadership has elevated Quinnipiac’s profile as a space for learning that builds toward the University of the Future. In addition to an update about all that is going on, this letter is a thank you for all you do. 
   
Below you will find updates about:

• Staffing

• Learning and Innovation 

• The Future is Now (new academic buildings, faculty hiring and development opportunities)

• Fall Learning and Resources 

Staffing Updates

Thirty-one full-time and visiting faculty have joined us since the start of Fall 2021:

• Daniele Botti (Philosophy)

• Carolyn Bradley (Nursing)

• Sara Cates (Legal Skills)

• Judith Deshpande (Nursing)

• Kelsey Doyle (Nursing)

• Clotilde Dudley-Smith (Health Science Studies)

• Timothy Ferrarotti (Physician Assistant)

• Goetti Francois (Nursing)

• Chetan Jaiswal (Computer Science)

• Zachary Kohlberg (Computer Science)

• Diane Kowalski (Medical Sciences)

• Diane Langlan-Wortz (Sociology)

• Keyvan Mahboubi (Biology)

• Sara-Kay Michaud (Biomedical Sciences)

• Cassandra Nelson (Occupational Therapy)

• Anthony Payne (Medical Sciences)

• Nick Pietruszkiewicz (Journalism)

• John Powers (Graphic and Interactive Design)

• Bridget Rich (Nursing)

• Erica Rizzo (Nursing)

• Gisela Rodriguez (Biomedical Sciences)

• Dawn Roller (Physical Therapy)

• Niluka Ann Samarakkody (Biomedical Sciences)

• Mariah Seymour (Visual & Performing Arts)

• Kori Stewart (Diagnostic Imaging)

• Carter Takacs (Medical Sciences)

• Tyler Traister (Nursing)

• Giuseppina Violano (Nursing)

• Jack Wesson (Game Design and Development)

• Rondalyn Whitney (Occupational Therapy)

• Eunhea You (Nursing)

Under the thoughtful leadership of Khalilah Brown-Dean, Associate Provost for Faculty, we launched the inaugural New Faculty Academy to curate a yearlong onboarding and mentoring experience. The kickoff event for faculty hired in 2020-2022 provided space to hear from Quinnipiac students, explore professional development opportunities, connect with faculty leaders, and reflect on wellness strategies. This Fall’s theme, “Building and Exploring Community,” is inspired by Jose Antonio Bowen’s new book, Teaching Change.

In addition, we welcome to Quinnipiac Poonam Arora (Associate Dean for Faculty, School of Business); Pat Boily (Associate Dean of Administration and Finance, College of Arts and Sciences); Vanessa Gonzalez-Figuereo (Assistant Dean for Advising and Student Services, College of Arts and Sciences); Taskin Kocak (Dean, School of Computing and Engineering); Saleh Rahman (Associate Dean for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, School of Medicine); Michael Savino (Director of Academic Budgets and Resource Planning); Wendy Savarese (Assistant Dean of Clinical Education for Faculty and Students, School of Nursing); and Alison Witherspoon (Director of Lifelong Learning).

We celebrate Quinnipiac employees moving into new positions Kevin Barry (Interim Dean, School of Law) for the fall 2022 semester while Dean Jennifer Brown is on a well-deserved sabbatical; Jason Burke (AVP for the Student Experience/Executive Director of Veterans and Military Affairs); Shelly Chandler (Senior Associate Dean of Business and Operations, Health Sciences); Charles Collier (Assistant Dean for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, School of Medicine); Scott McLean (Faculty Director of the Honors Program); Nick Nicholson (Program Director of the First Year Seminar and Faculty Director for the Residential Experience); Matt Romeo (Chief Information Officer); Marion Sparago (Assistant Dean for Operations, School of Education); Amy Terry (Interim Registrar); and Celia C. Young (Executive Director of One Stop).

Wes Renfro (Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, College of Arts and Sciences) will lead this year’s Associate Deans Council. Many thanks to Lisa Rebeschi (Associate Dean, School of Nursing) for her leadership during AY 2021-2022.

In addition, we want to recognize those distinguished faculty honored with Emeriti status: Thomas Brady (Biomedical Sciences); Christine Fitzgerald (Health Science Studies); Barbara Glynn (Nursing); William “Bill” Hennessy (Diagnostic Imaging); Norbert K. Herzog (Medical Sciences); Ben S. Liu (Marketing); Antonio Magliaro (Mathematics); William O’Brien (Film, Television, and Media Arts); Robert Smart (English); Renee Tursi (English); and Joseph Woods (Biological Sciences).

Learning and Innovation

QUIP-RS

QUIP-RS (Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research & Scholarship) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct funded research with Quinnipiac faculty mentors over an 8-week period. Students receive a $4000 stipend and up to $1000 in research materials. We are pleased that this year, for the first time, QUIP-RS faculty mentors were also given a stipend for their participation. This year, a total of 13 students representing 5 different schools (Arts and Sciences, Business, Communications, Computing and Engineering, and Health Sciences) and 10 different majors participated. In addition to working with their mentors and peers, students also engaged in activities such as planting in the pollinator garden, participating in a sports jamboree, and rock climbing. The program will conclude with the Fall QUIP-RS symposium during Bobcat Weekend. Congratulations to the student researchers Khushi Agnish; Alyssa Arends; Emily Beltz; Pam Chonweerawong; Kelsey Darcy; Emily Diaz; Hannah Jack; Ariel Khemraj; Olivia Magno; Ryia Miller; Frankie Morganstern; Yamna Siddiqui; and Hannah Williams. And to the faculty mentors and committee members: Co-Chairs Alexandre de Lencastre and Katie Place; Adrienne Betz; Tilo Chowdhury; Scott Davies; Kim DiGiovanni; Christian Eggers; Mohammad Elahee; Jill Fehleison; Mary Philipps Ho; Lisa Kaplan; Sarah Lawson; Courtney McGinnis; Shawna Reed; Marcos Scauso; and JT Torres.

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works Impact Fund

Twelve faculty members from across the University have been awarded grants from the Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works Impact Fund administered by the Provost’s Office. Through the generous support of a donor, the Fund supports full-time faculty in their roles as scholars, practitioners, and creators helping to build the University of the Future. This fund is designed to advance opportunities for faculty publications, exhibitions, performances, and applications for external funding. Priority was given to proposals that advance the pillars of the Strategic Plan, contribute to public engagement, and demonstrate substantive impact. Recipients will present their work during the inaugural Celebration of Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Works in Spring 2023. The inaugural recipients are David Atkins; Xi Chen; Mohammad Elahee; Greg Garvey; Caitlin Hanlon and Tom Torello; Alexander Laskin; Martine Mirrione and Adrienne Betz; Nita Prasad; Martha Sanders; and Emre Tokgoz. Thank you to the members of the Review Committee for their careful and thoughtful commitment: Adrienne Betz; Kristen Bourgault; Jerrica Breindel; Mary Phillips Ho; Leonard Long; Phil Martinez; JT Torres; and Christopher Ward.

Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides a hub for connecting faculty with resources across the university to enhance their classroom experience. With a sharp focus on engaging learning experiences, CTL assists faculty with course design, class activities, community building, assessment strategies, and scholarship of teaching and learning. CTL maintains that all good teaching is inherently inclusive. As such, CTL helps manage the Inclusive Excellence Teaching Lab, a space for faculty to explore possibilities for integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion within any pedagogical approach. Interested faculty can email Jonathan Torres to request individual consultations, classroom observations, or participation in ongoing faculty development events. Faculty can also visit  the Center for Teaching and Learning webpage for more information. 

The Inclusive Excellence Teaching Lab facilitated the 2022 Inclusive Excellence Summer Assembly that brought together students, faculty, and staff to explore issues of belonging. Thank you to the AY 2021-2022 Fellows for their dedication and leadership: Marcos Scauso and Teresa Twomey (Co-Chairs); Wasim Ahmad; Carol Awasu; Iddrisu Awudu; Jessica Devine; Cindy Kern; Corey Kiassat; and Anna-Leila Williams. We are excited to welcome Dwayne Boucaud (Biomedical Sciences) and Tyler Traister (Nursing) as Co-Chairs for the AY 2022-2023 cohort.

We held the Fall 2022 Semester Spark featuring reflections and inspiration from Quinnipiac faculty, staff, and students on Monday, August 22.

Online Learning

As the Provost's Liaison for Online Education, David Valone will continue the work that he started in the spring to help develop a comprehensive strategy for online learning across the University. The spring "Summit on Online Education" provided a forum for faculty and staff across the University with an interest in online education to hear presentations from Information Technology, Academic Technology, Admission, Integrating Market and Communications as well as the new Director of Lifelong Learning. In addition, faculty presented best practices and other pedagogical ideas for delivering highly engaging and effective online courses. Work will continue this fall to develop structures that bring together various stake holders in online education. Faculty looking to get involved in helping shape the direction of online education at Quinnipiac, or who have specific concerns they would like to share, are encouraged to contact David Valone at david.valone@quinnipiac.edu. 

Bobcat Academy

This Fall we will launch Bobcat Academy to strengthen students’ success in making the transition from high school to college. In its first year, Bobcat Academy will provide targeted academic and cocurricular support for 100 students across six academic units. The goal is to enhance student belonging, retention, and success through a series of structured and informal academic enrichment efforts. Many thanks to Michael Ben-Avie, Senior Director of Learning Assessment and Research; Corey Kiassat, Associate Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering; Daymyen Lane, Director of Multicultural Education and Training; and Michael Vieth, Senior Instructor of Biology, for their leadership.

Promise Scholars

Building on the longstanding success of our partnership with New Haven Promise, the offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid collaborated with Hartford Promise -- a college success and scholarship program for Hartford public school students-- to enroll, retain, and graduate their scholars. The partnership extends beyond our financial commitment to match the $5,000 Hartford Promise scholarship students receive to reduce the financial barriers to attending college. Quinnipiac also offers students a personalized admission and financial aid experience, regular meetings and check-ins with QU staff, academic support services, and key relationships that promote college success. We look forward to building on this foundation to increase enrollment of Hartford Promise students in future years.

This year we developed a new partnership with the Waterbury Promise program. Waterbury Promise Scholars receive up to $20,000 in financial support to attend any Connecticut college or university. We have enrolled seven Waterbury Promise students in this year’s inaugural class. The Admissions and Financial Aid offices have already been working closely with the organization and have scheduled a session with incoming Waterbury Promise students and staff to provide guidance on preparing for the start of school, which will be held this week.

While assisting with college access, Quinnipiac will also change and grow with these scholars so this campus can be a reflection of inclusivity on a college campus.  Participation in Hartford Promise, and Waterbury Promise, in addition to our well-established relationship with New Haven Promise, support Pillar 2 of the strategic plan to create an inclusive, excellence-driven community.

Center for Research and Sponsored Programs

This spring, under the able leadership of Maureen McCarthy, the Center for Research and Scholarship reinvented itself as the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and welcomed new team member Michael Lukaszewicz, who specializes in post-award grants and contracts administration. We also moved foundation relations under the portfolio of the ORSP so that we now have one unified office responsible for grant seeking. This restructuring and additional staffing, will allow us to build on what was a record year for grants and contracts, with the total ORSP portfolio growing to over $4 million; a more than 100% increase year over year! Collectively these grants enabled Quinnipiac to help launch minority-,veteran-, and women-owned businesses in Hamden; build a new STEM enrichment program for Connecticut high school students; help faculty employ evidence-based best practices for inclusive excellence; provide free mediation services for CT residents navigating IRS disputes; offer fee waivers for lower-income high school students to attend QU summer programs; and develop innovative tests for detecting parasitic infection in pets.

• 2021-22: 40 awards worth $4.08 million*

• 2022-23 (as of 7/12/22): 37 awards worth $3.04 million

• Total pending: $3.07 million

*does not include existing foundation grants that were moved into the portfolio

Lifelong Learning

The Department of Lifelong Learning develops and advances a university-wide lifelong learning strategy. In collaboration with QU faculty, staff, and administrators as well as community and business leaders, Director Alison Witherspoon is charged with identifying and developing flexible, effective learning solutions that serve professional career needs including building systems, processes, and policies to reach new learners and meet market demands. This includes availability of digital credentials such as badges, professional certifications, continuing education, corporate education, and executive education.

Faculty are central to the successful development and delivery of lifelong learning through our core academic programs as well as through non-credit offerings. Since assuming the role of Director, Alison has collaborated with faculty to bring the university’s first suite of customized corporate education programs to life as part of QU’s partnership with Hartford HealthCare. The suite of three leadership development programs will serve the continuing education needs of over 2,000 leaders across the Hartford HealthCare system. This fall QU will launch two of the three leadership development programs with the third program launching in early 2023. Thank you to the faculty who have established the foundation for QU in this space and to those developing and delivering content this fall!

The customized corporate education programs currently underway serve as the launch pad for QU’s strategic entry into continuing education. Additional discussions and working groups are underway to explore faculty-driven opportunities to reach a wider audience. Lifelong Learning will continue to serve as a central resource for faculty developing innovative learning opportunities that expand access and inclusivity, increase visibility of QU’s academic excellence, and meet the rapidly changing workforce needs.

In collaboration with the School of Business, the Department of Lifelong Learning would like to invite all interested faculty to attend a live, virtual Best Practices in Executive Education Professional Development Two-Part Series led by external consultant, Kelly Bean. Offered on Sept. 7 and 8, this opportunity is open to all faculty. Attendees will learn how to tailor their learning and teaching methods to a corporate audience, how to draw on the lived experiences of executive students to elicit immediate, observable on-the-job change, and how to enable participants to achieve their career goals. The series includes two 90-minute sessions offered on back-to-back days and will be offered twice to accommodate as many faculty as possible. Register for the professional development series.

Honors Program

The Honors Program has grown exponentially this past year and admitted its largest class of 361 new first-year students. This year’s Honors cohort has representation in every undergraduate school at Quinnipiac!  Professor Scott McLean is our newly appointed Faculty Director and joins Professor Melissa Kaplan, our Administrative Director, to lead this important program. They are launching a new Honors Faculty Fellowship program.   The Honors Faculty Fellows will play a pathbreaking role as educators from diverse backgrounds who advise and incubate innovative ideas for high-impact programming.  The Honors Faculty Fellows will teach multi-disciplinary Honors courses and develop Signature Seminars based in their own fields.  Applications are being accepted now for Fall 2022 Honors Faculty Fellows. The Honors Program is already expanding its multi-disciplinary course offerings in the First Year Seminars and University Curriculum courses to help faculty create high-impact Signature Experiences. Honors also supports student research experiences and will continue to encourage students in the Honors Program to present at national and regional Honors conferences.  We are designing more deeply community-based service experiences and extending involvement with Study Abroad so that Honors Program students have more opportunities to engage issues with local and global community members.   

First-Year Seminar (FYS)

As we continue to build out QU’s first-year experience, Nick Nickolson (faculty in nursing), is serving in a new role that combines faculty leadership of first-year seminar with faculty leadership of the living learning communities. This connection will help all first-year undergraduate students at QU build a community in their FYS and in their living space through coordinated co-curricular opportunities.

The Future is Now

Building Updates

Design for the academic buildings on the new South Quad progressed significantly over the summer. This open and iterative planning process has benefited from faculty, staff, and student workshops on the design and programmatic aspects of the projects. More focused design sessions are underway to plan specifics for each major programmatic component of both the general academic and School of Business buildings.

As shared during the June 22nd Town Hall, below are the highlights of each building:

Academic Center: A 700-seat flexible auditorium space with retractable seating and balcony space that can be cordoned off separately for maximum flexibility in usage; campus-wide innovation, computing and engagement spaces; 6 general purpose classrooms that vary in size from 32 to 60 seats and accommodate a range of teaching styles; 15 teaching labs; 15,500 square feet of research lab space, along with a greenhouse and a 7,000 square foot vivarium; 32 faculty offices; student-facing administration and advising functions for CAS, Health Sciences, and Nursing; and, over 10,000 square feet of collaborative meeting and breakout spaces.

School of Business

The new School of Business building is designed as an inclusive destination featuring teaching, research, and gathering spaces open to the Quinnipiac University community. The new building will feature an atrium with a café; large study + gathering spaces including a 170 person multipurpose space; a behavioral research lab, digital sandbox, innovation lab, financial technology center, sales training center, and focus group research room. The new building will be home to the People’s United Center for Women and Business and the People’s United Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Together with the Academic Center, the nine classrooms in the School of Business building will support a range of teaching styles and pedagogy. The planning phase for the configurations of interior spaces will begin this Fall. That process will include focus groups and engagement with faculty and students. Planning is also underway to address other key priorities and needed renovations in Tater Hall.

Career and Advising

To advance Quinnipiac’s Strategic Plan as the University of the Future and continue to achieve national distinction in preparing QU graduates for career success, a hiring process is underway for an Assistant Vice President of Career Development in the Office of the Provost. This new position will expand the university's innovative and highly effective hybrid approach to career development, which reflects the skill sets and expertise of staff based various schools/college and professional specialties, as well as shared tools and networks across QU. With this expansion of QU’s school-based career education, internship, employment, and post-graduate opportunities programs, students will be even better positioned for life-long career success.

Faculty Hiring Initiative

Earlier this year we announced the launch of an unprecedented hiring initiative that will add 35 new full-time faculty and 10 academic support staff over the next three years. As a result of in-depth conversations, visioning sessions, research, and program reviews, we are excited to share a vision for academic distinction and excellence at Quinnipiac that aligns with the pillars of our Strategic Plan. Quinnipiac B.O.L.D. will:

Build distinctive academic offerings and experiences that distinguish Quinnipiac as an innovative leader in higher education and beyond.

Organize meaningful interdisciplinary collaborations across schools and programs that leverage expertise to address societal problems.

Lead the recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented faculty and students.

Develop an ecosystem of community, industry, and global partnerships that enhance Quinnipiac’s impact on the future.

This Fall we will expand the scope of the visioning sessions and collaborative discussions to develop an effective process for executing this strategy. We invite you to participate in those sessions as we build together.

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

We are excited that Quinnipiac has joined the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) as an Institutional Member. The NCFDD is a nationally-recognized, independent organization that provides online career development and mentoring resources for faculty, academic staff, post-docs, graduate, and professional students. These resources address various career themes such as drafting book proposals; promoting empathy amid the pandemic; applying for NSF Grants; managing academic conflict; post-tenure pathfinders; integrated wellness; overcoming imposter syndrome; and developing a publishing pipeline. We join a network of over 400 colleges and universities committed to cultivating dedicated opportunities for professional and personal enrichment. Departments, programs, schools, and cohorts are encouraged to utilize NCFDD resources to tailor professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.

• NCFDD provides a variety of virtual programs and resources including:

• Weekly Monday Motivator

• Monthly Core Curriculum Webinars

• Monthly Guest Expert Webinars

• Access to Multi-Week Courses

• Access to Dissertation Success Curriculum for graduate students

• Private Discussion Forum for peer-mentoring, problem-solving, & moderated writing challenges

• Monthly accountability buddy matches

• Access to 14-Day Writing Challenges

• Access to the Member Library that includes past webinar materials, referrals, and readings

To claim your free membership, complete the following steps:

1. Go to the Faculty Diversity website

2. Choose “Quinnipiac” from the drop-down menu.

3. Select “Activate my Membership”

4. Complete the registration form using your @quinnipiac.edu email address

5. Go to your Quinnipiac email to find a confirmation/welcome email. Click “Activate Account” in the email.

If you have any questions about the membership and its resources, please contact Khalilah L. Brown-Dean, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. For technical questions, please email NCFDD.

Upcoming Events

• Campus Wide Talk with Mónica Guzmán (September 19)
  Mónica Guzmán is author of the new book, I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. She is committed to using the power of storytelling to build connection and promote curiosity and understanding. Guzmán is Director of Digital and Storytelling for Braver Angels — the largest grassroots organization in the U.S. dedicated to political depolarization. As 2016 Nieman Fellow at Harvard she studied how journalists can better meet public needs. Guzmán is a former columnist for GeekWire, The Daily Beast, and Columbia Journalism Review. She will be the featured guest for Quinnipiac’s Campus Wide Talk on September 19th, with separate workshops for faculty and students on the 20th. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Cultural and Global Engagement, The Office of the President, The Office of the Provost, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. Stay tuned for more details and please consider integrating her work and QU visit into your courses this semester.

• Compassion: A Path to Global Wellbeing (September 29-30)
  In recognition of the 70th anniversary since the announcement of Albert Schweitzer’s Nobel Prize for Peace, the Albert Schweitzer Institute is partnering with the Center for Compassion and Creativity to sponsor “Compassion: A Path to Global Wellbeing.” This two-day convening features panel discussions and exercises on cultivating the skills of active compassion that can help prepare us individually and as a society to meet challenges and build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future. For example, how can we reduce stress, anger, and self-focus? How can we navigate challenges in our daily life, communities, and environment? How can we identify and overcome compassion fatigue? The event’s schedule is designed to accommodate Quinnipiac’s class schedule so that faculty, staff, and students may attend when convenient. Faculty are also encouraged to bring their classes. This conference is part of the re-launch of the Schweitzer Institute as the place for building a culture of peace on campus. For more information contact ASI Executive Director Sean Duffy.

Academic Technology

Academic Technology provides an array of synchronous and asynchronous services to faculty.  They offer one-on-one consultations, trainings, and workshops in face-to-face and virtual formats for Blackboard, Microsoft Office 365, YuJa screen capturing software, Zoom, and more.  Visit their Training Calendar for a list of upcoming sessions. Academic Technology also maintains a large, on-demand library of tutorials and resources.  Visit the Information Technology Services MyQ site for step-by-step guides, information about classroom technology, instructional strategies and more.  Academic Technology’s August Newsletter highlights tools and strategies you may find helpful as you prepare for the start of the semester.  Get in touch with Academic Technology via email at academictechnology@qu.edu or by submitting a Technology Help Request.

Fall Learning Resources

Mask Policy

Masking will continue to be optional both inside and outside the classroom, subject to community health directives. Faculty may request that masks be worn in their individual classes. Masks remain required when interacting with clinical patients and identified placement sites.

COVID Vaccinations and Boosters

All students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This means you must have completed the primary vaccination series of two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.

• COVID booster shots are not required of students, faculty or staff but are strongly encouraged.

• Students new to Quinnipiac must upload a copy of their primary COVID-19 vaccination document to the Student Health Services patient portal.

• No further action is required for returning students who already have a vaccination record on file with Student Health Services.

• Returning students with an existing and approved religious or medical exemption on file do not need to re-apply for a new exemption. Students new to QU who have a basis for exception may request a vaccination exemption by contacting Student Health Services.

COVID Testing

A pre-arrival test is not required before returning for the fall semester. We have discontinued weekly surveillance testing of non-vaccinated individuals with approved exemptions. On-campus testing will be available throughout the fall by appointment at Student Health Services. We anticipate having free rapid tests available again to students.

Isolation Protocols

Because the availability of on-campus isolation housing is limited, residential students who test positive will be asked to travel home to isolate, if they do not need to take public transportation and they live within the region. Exemptions to isolate on campus may be provided to residential students who have extenuating circumstances. Thanks for your continued flexibility as students who are sick will need accommodation that allows them to meet the courses’ learning objectives.

Students in Clinical/Educational Placements

Students in the schools of Health Sciences, Nursing, Medicine, and Education with clinical/education placements must confirm vaccination and/or booster requirements with their clinical and/or field work coordinator. Students are required to comply with school-specific clinical and fieldwork policies. For instance, having been granted a vaccination exemption from the University does not supersede clinical and fieldwork policies requiring the vaccination. The university cannot guarantee alternate clinical placements if a student does not comply with the clinical partner’s vaccination/booster requirements or other policies. Students who do not comply with these policies risk their eligibility for assignment to a clinical or educational site, and therefore continuation of their program of study.

Should community health conditions or directives change, we will adjust these policies accordingly.

I am continually grateful to Dr. David Hill, faculty in the School of Medicine, for continuing to guide us through the challenges of the pandemic with an emphasis on health and safety.

Employee Wellness Resources

Health Advocate provides Quinnipiac’s employee assistance program (EAP), as well as advocacy services. EAP services include confidential counseling and referrals available to you and your family members at no cost. The EAP offers 24/7 telephone access to licensed, master’s-level counselors who can help with concerns regarding relationships, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, substance abuse, childcare, elder care, work-related issues, and so much more. You and your family members can receive up to five (5) sessions of in-person confidential counseling for free.

All services are completely confidential, NO information will be shared with Quinnipiac. Your dependents, your parents, and parents-in-law can also use Health Advocate, at no cost to them.

Help is available 24/7, 365 days a year:

• 866-695-8622

• answers@HealthAdvocate.com

• Visit the Health Advocate website

The October opening of our new state-of-the-art Recreation and Wellness Center coupled with our historic partnership with Hartford HealthCare remind all of us to center a holistic emphasis on health and well-being. I hope that you will use this new Center as a resource as we all strive for greater work-life balance.

Finally, on behalf of the fabulous academic leadership team at QU, I am grateful for your distinctive commitment to excellence in education here at Quinnipiac. Please join us for Fall Convocation for Faculty and Staff that will be held in Burt Kahn Court on the Mount Carmel Campus, Friday, August 26 at 11 a.m. It will be followed with a BBQ lunch with students to welcome the Class of 2026.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and fulfilling year!

Debra