Finding Community during COVID-19

As COVID-19 completely changed how we educated, communicated, and worked, our employees stepped up to make these changes as seamless as possible. Faculty and staff sprang into action and carried out duties that were often beyond the scope of their job descriptions, including significant overhauls to how our dining services, information technology, and almost all departments on campus operated. Members of our faculty faced the monumental task of shifting learning to completely online or hybrid formats. Those who continued face-to-face, like those completing clinicals, practicums, and critical research, constantly adapted to new procedures and best practices to keep students, instructors, and others safe.

Over time, this emphasis on safety came to include testing and vaccination clinics on campus. On April 16 and May 7, 2021, Clarke University partnered with Hartig Drug to host vaccination clinics at the Kehl Center. Over 90 of our Clarke community members were vaccinated, with many others receiving care from their regular health providers and local pharmacies. Nursing students were also able to assist in the events, gaining practical experience while furthering the common good.

After a year of immense challenges, we were able to gather for commencement, though it looked different from years past. Students from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were invited to attend the ceremony held on May 15, 2021, at the Five Flags Center. Though masked and socially distanced, the Clarke spirit was alive and well, as over 400 students were recognized for earning their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Although the pandemic is not in the rearview mirror yet, we have learned important lessons about the true meaning of community. It doesn’t necessarily have to be experienced in-person; it is a group of people sharing a common goal, wherever they are. As we look toward a brighter future, we know we are equipped to tackle whatever challenges may come as One Clarke, One Community.

How all areas of the Clarke Community responded to COVID-19

With the 2020-2021 school year being one for the history books, we wanted to provide a snapshot from each of our divisions to show how the pandemic impacted daily operations. Whether it was shining a light on good things already happening or a push to try something new, COVID-19 has had both immediate and long-lasting effects on the way we operate and serve our students.

Business and Finance

When Clarke University made the decision to offer a mix of virtual and on-campus education for 2020-2021, the Business and Finance team was put into overdrive to gather the materials needed to provide a safe educational environment. This included ordering and distributing thousands of face masks, over 24,000 ounces of hand sanitizer, and countless linear feet of Plexiglas.

It was a monumental effort, making us all the more grateful for our team and their extraordinary efforts. They have found new ways to provide nourishment for our students, employed new methods of cleaning and sanitation, implemented new technology, and have gone above and beyond in every way.

Student Life

Student Life may have looked very different this year, but our team still provided exceptional service and support.

Campus Ministry and Counseling Services moved much of their operations to a virtual format yet strove to nurture student and employee well-being in a time of crisis. While Health Services and Athletic Training also had to move certain elements of their work online, they played a critical role in our response to COVID-19 through student health monitoring and screening activities. Resident Assistants and the Clarke Student Association have also worked tirelessly to present programming and community building opportunities for students.

Enrollment Management

In our response to COVID-19, we chose not to settle on getting by, but to adapt and improve. One of the most significant projects we undertook was the CC Today, CU Tomorrow program. Beginning with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), we became the first private college to partner with all 15 Iowa Community Colleges – reducing barriers, costs, and time to a bachelor’s degree by developing comprehensive transfer articulation agreements.

We also strove to increase access by adding virtual visits and events, allowing us to reach students who may not have otherwise engaged with Clarke. In October, we safely welcomed visiting prospective students and their families to campus. Within our community, we collaborated and found innovative ways to showcase the Pride to prospective students and our community.

Marketing & Communication

When students and employees were sent home in March 2020, it was Marketing’s job to see that everyone had the most up-to-date information possible. This meant daily meetings, hundreds of emails, and a resource page on the website that was constantly evolving.

Our work was far more than COVID-19 response – we also found ways to highlight and celebrate the way Clarkies were keeping connections alive. From Clarke Receptionist Mary Ellen Herbst, calling each Clarke student to check on their well-being, to our "Welcome Home Clarkies!” billboards to celebrate the return to campus in the fall, marketing continually displayed how we are One Clarke, One Community.

Institutional Advancement

When March 2020 put many of our events, meetings, and alumni visits on hold, the Institutional Advancement team sought out new ways to build and sustain relationships. This inspired the launch of our new monthly e-newsletter, which captures all things Clarke in an easy-to-read format. From interviews with alumni, new events on campus, and exciting engagement opportunities, the newsletter provides a regular source of communication that helps maintain your connection to Clarke.

We also made the choice to shift our print magazine to a once-a-year publication. With a new keepsake format, we hope it will be a piece you are proud to display for colleagues, friends, and family. Each summer you will receive this high-quality publication highlighting the achievements and events of the prior year, and a digital version is easily accessible on our website at clarke.edu/magazine.

Although in-person gatherings were not possible, we did remain connected through virtual events and experiences. Every decision we make is with you, our alumni and friends, in mind, and we hope that these new communications and engagement opportunities will help you celebrate all that you love about Clarke University.

Academic Affairs

Clarke University used our core values as guideposts to navigate our changing world. Courses included a wider variety of modes of instruction to better serve our core value of education.

Freedom took on new meaning with the move to a virtually connected world. For Clarke, freedom means offering tools, support, and resources to help our community be their true and best selves, and our new CareerPLUS program is meant to do just that.

Finally, our core value of charity was perhaps the most significant this year, as we were all reminded to be kind, flexible, and understanding in our work with others. Clarke believes that learning is lifelong and life-changing, even with stumbles along the way. Giving ourselves the gift of grace is one of the most profound lessons this year presented, and one that students, faculty, and staff took to heart.