Submissions from 2020
Students Continue Outreach Virtually During the Pandemic, Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning
Sacred Heart University students have been able to carry on their engagement in community service during the pandemic, thanks to the efforts of staff in the Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning (VPSL).
Message from Dr. Petillo 12/11/20, The Coronavirus Planning Team and John J. Petillo
Well, it certainly has been an unusual year. They say that every cloud has a silver lining. The silver lining for me in all that we have fought through this semester is YOU. This year has reinforced in a big way what I already knew about you—you care about others and SHU’s mission and values; you are resilient and adaptable; you are creative and find new ways to overcome challenges; you are hard-working and determined in the face of adversity; you are Pioneers in every sense of the word. And, when I say YOU, I am talking about every single student, faculty and staff member.
Coronavirus Update 12-04-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We are in the process of finalizing the plans for your return for spring and will share them with you before Christmas. As always, plans may change based on guidance from the state or the CDC and the prevalence of the virus locally and statewide.
Coronavirus Update 12-01-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want you to enjoy the holiday season, but we also want you to be safe and healthy, so we ask that you keep traveling to a minimum and that you continue to follow the Pioneer Promise while away from campus.
Coronavirus Update 11/24/20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
One final message before the Thanksgiving weekend break to wrap up a few things.
Coronavirus Update 11-20-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Guidance from the State: Attached is a letter from Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health that is directed to all students attended college in Connecticut.
Coronavirus Update 11-17-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Quarantine Lifted on Bergoglio and Seton --Active Cases --Governor Asks That All Students Be Tested Before Leaving Campus for Home.
Coronavirus Update 11-13-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Active Cases --Rollovers for Meal Plans --Updated Exit Guidance for College Students from the Department of Health.
Coronavirus Update 11-11-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Today’s dashboard shows us with 212 active cases up four from yesterday and a seven-day moving average of 25.4 up from 23.9 yesterday. Our alert status remains at red.
Join Us For Our Upcoming Virtual Events!, Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts
Choral Program Presents Christmas at the Movies --Dance Company Presents deSTRUCT/URE.
Coronavirus Update 11-10-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Since yesterday we have 31 new positive tests for COVID-19—17 on campus, 13 off campus and one staff member. Our contact tracing protocol continues to be in place. We have had 14 students recover and leave isolation. Today’s dashboard shows us with 208 active cases and a seven-day moving average of 23.9. Our alert status remains at red.
Coronavirus Update 11-9-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Testing --Active Cases --Traveling Home.
Coronavirus Update 11-7-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Everything went very well today both with the exit testing and with parents coming to pick up students who are choosing to finish up the semester from home.
Coronavirus Update 11-6-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Since we communicated with you yesterday, we have a total of 34 new positive COVID-19 cases—25 on campus and nine off campus. We are also still receiving results from this week’s random asymptomatic testing. Because of this continued spike, we are moving our alert status to red. This decision was made after careful deliberations and discussion with state and local health officials about how best to contain the virus.
Coronavirus Update 11-5-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Since we communicated with you on Tuesday, we have had a total of 35 new COVID-19 cases—29 of which are on campus. This is, unfortunately, in line with spikes in cases both regionally and nationally and at other area universities. Part of the reason is that people everywhere are letting their guard down.
Take Care of One Another, John J. Petillo
We are living in anxious times: A pandemic. Financial crisis. Racial, social and political divisions. And, now election uncertainties on a national level. The collective impact of all these stressors impacts each one of us.
Coronavirus Update 11-3-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
With a rise in COVID cases around the state, Connecticut’s governor has rolled back many of the state regulations from Phase 3 to Phase 2. This does not have a tremendous impact on the University, because we did not move to Phase 3 in many areas.
Coronavirus Update 10-23-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
While we are asking you to stay on campus as much as possible, the good news is that there will be plenty to do.
Coronavirus Update 10-30-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We all want to be here until Thanksgiving as planned, and we don’t want you to have to spend your final weeks in quarantine. Please use good judgment this weekend.
Coronavirus Update 10-27-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to start by talking about Halloween.
Coronavirus Update 10-2-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Our ramped-up random testing of asymptomatic students went well this week, and we are processing the results. We tested more than 1,200 students and some faculty and staff. Next week, we begin saliva testing and will test even more community members. The testing method, called SalivaDirect, was developed by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health. It was granted an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has been used to test asymptomatic players and staff in the NBA. We are one of the first education institutions to use this test—if not the very first.
The Library is Open --And Some Tips for Using, Peter Gavin Ferriby
The Library staff is so glad to have everyone back—let’s stay strong and finish the semester!
Dr. Petillo Addresses the University, John J. Petillo
Dr. John Petillo, Sacred Heart University's president, addressed the school community about recent COVID-19 cases. This video was posted to YouTube (3:19).
The president of Sacred Heart University is warning students to take social distancing and mask wearing seriously or students could be forced to be sent home.
Coronavirus Update 8/21/20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Opening-of-School Activities --Learning What NOT to Do --More on Masks --Faculty --Testing/Contact Information --Study Areas for Commuters --Daily Health Symptom Survey --We're Here to Answer Your Questions.
St. Vincent's College Pinning Ceremony, 2020, St. Vincent's College at Sacred Heart University
St. Vincent’s College cordially invites you to attend the Virtual Pinning Ceremony for the Class of 2020, August 14, 2020 7 P.M.
Streamed live on YouTube (1:02:59)
Dr. Petillo on the #PioneerPromise, John J. Petillo
YouTube video (2:35)
Coronavirus Update 8-7-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We have updates for you, including the latest guidance from the State of CT regarding visitors from high-risk states, an important change to the University calendar and updates on required testing for students.
President Petillo Discusses the Return to Campus, John J. Petillo
Thought Leadership for the New Normal – A Conversation Series with Sacred Heart University Deans: How Is This Crisis Changing How Hospitals Are Serving Their Patients?, Sacred Heart University
The fourth in the series. Conversation with Dr. Mary Alice Donius, Dean of the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing, and Keith Hovan, '84, '93, CEO of Southcoast Health System and Hospital Group.
Hosted by Randye Kaye of WSHU Public Radio.
Return to Work Guidelines, The Coronavirus Planning Team
"Return to Work" employee transition timeline, guidelines and requirements.
Sacred Heart Faculty Adapt Courses to Changing Times, Sacred Heart University
Altered curricula teaches students how pandemic impacts business, health care, teaching and more. As Sacred Heart University professors fully absorbed the reality of the pandemic and what it meant for their students and classrooms, they came to an important decision: “teach the virus.”
Please Share Your Covid Experience!, Peter Gavin Ferriby
As history unfolds during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Remembering COVID-19 Project is collecting experiences and responses from the SHU community to preserve for decades to come. Ryan Matura Library staff, in collaboration with the departments of history, sociology, theatre arts and the School of Communication, Media & the Arts, will collect and archive the content.
Coronavirus Update 5-22-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Last weekend, we gave you a broad overview of the SHU-Flex model and the University’s plans and protocols for on-campus, face-to-face learning in the fall. Our plans must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by the State of CT and the CDC, which continue to evolve. Since last week’s message, we have received several questions from you that we will address below. We thank you for your continued patience. In an ideal world, we would not be making any changes at all, but we must adapt our usual way of functioning to maximize the health and safety of the entire SHU community.
Coronavirus Update 5-15-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
This week we want to provide some more information about the University’s planning for the coming semester. There are many details still to be finalized, but we want to give you as much information as we can to help you with your planning. As you might expect, Sacred Heart is following the guidelines recently provided by the governor for the reopening of universities as well as guidance from health experts.
Successful Communication During COVID-19 for People with Speech and Hearing Challenges, Ciara Leydon, Jamie F. Marotto, and Jill E. Douglass
Conversation with speech-language pathology faculty members, Ciara Leydon, Jamie Marotto, and Jill Douglass discussing how to communicate with individuals who have speech and hearing challenges during this time of social distancing.
Hosted on Facebook by Sacred Heart University Alumni Association (32:22).
Pasta Night with Dr. Petillo, John J. Petillo
Dr. Petillo and his family cook up two of their favorite pasta dishes. YouTube video (32:37)
Sacred Heart University Undergraduate Conferral of Degrees, Sunday, May 10, 2020, Sacred Heart University
Video from the Sacred Heart University YouTube Channel (32:10).
We are currently working on plans for our traditional commencement ceremony on a future date as soon as we can be together again. In the meantime, these conferral ceremonies will allow you to use your degrees to look for jobs, apply for licensing or grad school and more. Congratulations to all of you!
Sacred Heart University Graduate Conferral of Degrees, Saturday May 9, 2020, Sacred Heart University
From the Sacred Heart University YouTube Channel (32:13)
We are currently working on plans for our traditional commencement ceremony on a future date as soon as we can be together again. In the meantime, these conferral ceremonies will allow you to use your degrees to look for jobs, apply for licensing or grad school and more. Congratulations to all of you!
Coronavirus Update 5-8-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont came out with guidance for reopening colleges and universities. The good news is that the recommendations are in line with the discussions and planning that are already taking place among Sacred Heart’s task forces that are preparing for the fall semester and beyond in the wake of the coronavirus.
Professor Susan Goncalves Donates Plasma to COVID-19 Patients, Sacred Heart University
Susan Goncalves, a professor in Sacred Heart University's Dr. Susan L. Davis, RN, & Richard Henley College of Nursing, has been a nurse at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport for 35 years. On March 23, when she began experiencing chills due to a fever, she knew she needed to be tested. Three days later, her results came in COVID-19 positive.
Coronavirus Update 5-1-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Our plan to offer a full on-campus program for both residential and commuter students (for the fall semeser) will not come without temporary changes to our typical way of campus life.
We Are All Homeschooling Now, Michael P. Alfano, Sharon M. McCloskey, and Edward (Franc) Hudspeth
"We're All Homeschooling Now" with Dean Michael Alfano and special guests Sharon M. McCloskey & Dr. Edward (Franc) Hudspeth. Hosted by Sacred Heart University Alumni Association and Sacred Heart University on Facebook (34:07)
Coronavirus Update 4-24-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Working behind the scenes on our responses to this pandemic and our plans to get back to campus are a group of task forces appointed by President Petillo. Each task force is appropriately populated with the University staff and faculty with the knowledge and experience to tackle the issues before them, and these leaders are bringing in others throughout campus as needed.
Coronavirus Update 4-17-2020, The Coronavirus Planning Team
A few updates: In response to an executive order from the City of Bridgeport and strong guidance from Governor Lamont, we are now requiring everyone to wear a mask. We will hold a virtual conferral ceremony on May 9 and 10 to acknowledge the earning of degrees. WSHU is launching a podcast to update listeners on the latest with the coronavirus outbreak in our region.
Campus Map: Online Learning Spaces for Commuters, Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart has numerous outdoor spaces and informal places to study in our buildings. However, to provide additional options for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have identified four areas throughout our campuses where students may choose to participate in online learning.
