4/13 Message to Students Regarding Staff Furlough

TO: Students
FROM: President Heckler

Dear Students,

I hope, in the midst of what have been difficult and trying times, I hope you were able to take some time over the long Easter weekend to connect with friends and family, whether in person or virtually from a safe distance. As we enter the final weeks of an unprecedented semester, I pray that you are able to remain attentive to your studies, check in with your Valpo classmates and professors, and, most importantly, to take care of yourself physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The purpose of this email is to share some important information that was conveyed to faculty and staff earlier this morning. Staff and faculty received emails letting them know that the University has made the difficult decision to furlough a group of our staff members. A furlough means that some staff members will not be working from April 16 to July 31, 2020. This is not a separation from employment, and we fully expect to bring these staff back to do their important work. This difficult but necessary decision, one being made by many universities across the country, aims to ensure that Valparaiso University is positioned to operate through this uncertain environment and prepared to resume full operations when it is safe and prudent to do so.

If there is a particular staff member you have regular contact with in the various offices and departments around campus, they may not respond to emails during this time of furlough.

Because of this, I would encourage you to reach out to your professors or members of the student affairs staff if you need assistance and have not received a response or to contact departments via email.

Departmental Contact Information
Residence Life/Student Affairs Office
reslife@valpo.edu

Office of the Registrar
registrar@valpo.edu

Student Accounts
student.accounts@valpo.edu

Chapel and Helge Center
chapel@valpo.edu

Valpo Athletics
valpo.athletics@valpo.edu

Christopher Center Library
library@valpo.edu

Additional resources and contact information are available on the coronavirus website.

Please keep Valpo’s staff and faculty in your prayers at this difficult time. And please know you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as well. I walk our suddenly quiet campus each day, and I truly miss seeing your faces and feeling the vibrancy of your presence. I look forward to when we can all be together again.

Stay safe. Stay well.

Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President
Valparaiso University