Media Credit: File Photo by Donna Armstrong | Senior Staff Photographer
McAlister said getting vaccinated made her more energetic and gave her hope that she will be able to teach in person this fall.
Faculty who have received the COVID-19 vaccine say they feel safer about teaching in person this fall as vaccinations continue to expand across the country.
Seven vaccinated faculty members said they feel optimistic and comfortable returning to campus next semester for in-person instruction and to restore the traditional campus experience for students. More than 200 faculty opted out of teaching in person last fall due to concerns of contracting the virus, but vaccinated faculty said they now encourage students and the rest of the GW community to get the vaccine at the earliest opportunity to be protected from the virus and for normal campus life to return.
Media Credit: File Photo by Eric Lee
Bunch also served as a museum studies and history professor at GW from 1990 to 2000, the release states.
Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, will be this year’s Commencement speaker, officials announced in a release Monday.
Bunch will also receive a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree when officials hold an in-person ceremony on the National Mall in the future, the release states. He is the first African American and the first historian to lead the Smithsonian, according to the release.
“Secretary Bunch’s contributions to the world, through his leadership of the Smithsonian, dedication to teaching and research and far-reaching influence on our understanding of history and culture are truly remarkable,” University President Thomas LeBlanc said in the release.
GW to require COVID-19 vaccination this fall gwhatchet.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gwhatchet.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Media Credit: Grace Hromin | Assistant Photo Editor
Goldman said she has heard from parents and Milken faculty members advocating for officials to institute a vaccine requirement for the fall.
GW’s top public health official signaled her support for requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to return to campus this fall, as officials continue weighing reopening metrics for next semester.
Milken Institute School of Public Health Dean Lynn Goldman, who advises administrators on the University’s COVID-19 response, said at a Faculty Senate meeting Friday that a vaccine requirement would make it “easier” to manage classrooms and for students to have a more normal campus experience. University President Thomas LeBlanc said administrators are continuing “active discussions” but have not made a final decision about requiring vaccinations.
Media Credit: File Photo by Sophia Young | Contributing Photo Editor
Mark Diaz, the chief financial officer, said that once administrators made decisions to introduce financial cuts as a result of the pandemic, their intent moving forward has been to reverse those decisions, financial conditions permitting.
News By Zach Schonfeld Apr 5, 2021 12:19 AM
Officials are continuing to roll back budget cuts implemented last year to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s financial impacts.
Administrators announced last week that they will resume employee retirement matching contributions and merit salary increases in July and said they are “actively preparing” for a round of faculty hires later this semester, which were all suspended to curb GW’s estimated $180 million budget gap this fiscal year. University President Thomas LeBlanc, Chief Financial Officer Mark Diaz and Provost Brian Blake said they hope to continue “unwinding” additional cuts in the coming months as they con