CSP is Resilient

Amid the coronavirus and many other challenges that have hit us all in 2020, Concordia University, St. Paul These new tools include personal protective equipment (PPE) for all custodians. has found a way forward. The effort has been herculean but more than worth it. From athletics to student life to "We are the only school in the state that has invested heavily in academics to cleaning and maintenance on campus, nearly air circulation and disinfecting equipment," LaMott shares. every procedure and protocol has been under a microscope Kirsch says this new equipment includes UV light technology and changed. Students have never before experienced such wands to disinfect smaller spaces like keyboards, phones, and dramatic changes to the way they live, learn, and connect. desktops. "Additionally, we have purchased large mobile UV light "When coronavirus hit last spring, we were able to shift to fully systems that rotate throughout campus every night, taking the online delivery of classes very quickly,” says Dr. Eric LaMott, disinfection process one step further," Kirsch notes. Provost and Chief Operating Officer at CSP “We've been a Other physical additions installed for protection against the virus technologically rich school for the last 20 years, so shifting was include toe door openers, plexiglass where the public comes nearly seamless. Because of the smoothness of this massive in contact with people regularly, and disinfectant kits for each move, CSP administration was able to start planning for fall department and classroom. immediately." "Our entire CSP community has been proactive, innovative, and There is so much that is still unknown about COVID-19 and thus the University had to prepare and implement protocols that offered the very best protection against the virus. CSP contracts with Sodexo for food service and maintenance on campus. The Sodexo team, led by Barry Kirsch, went to work, creating every possible system to keep the CSP community safe. "With information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and the resources Sodexo offered, we created new systems,” Kirsch says. “We augmented our current cleaning schedules and protocols with COVID-directed additions." As we all know, change is hard, and when As knowledge of the virus and how it works continued to evolve, LaMott says CSP asked many questions to find out what students wanted and what they were comfortable with for the fall semester. We found out that traditional students wanted to be in person. So, that's what we planned for. We are here to serve our learners. routines and the tools we have always trusted to help us do our jobs are no longer enough, it can be tough to get individuals and teams on board with a new way of operating. Kirsch says this has been an “We found out that traditional students –Dr. Eric LaMott excellent experience for their teams. wanted to be in person. So, that's what "Most of the team members have been we planned for. We are here to serve our integral in helping develop and test new systems and protocols,” learners.” Kirsch explains. “The focus has been making sure that all team The administration set the vision and direction then charged all members are committed to the campus and community faculty and staff departments and individuals with figuring out population's safety. Whether they are fixing a toilet in a dorm, how to live within this vision. cleaning a classroom, or cutting grass, they know that their job proud of their work. We are truly all in this together," says LaMott. This teamwork has been essential not only in campus sanitation, "At that point, we started to see the resilience of our leaders. I but in food service and delivery for the campus community as am so proud of how this community came together to solve well. Each area has benefited from the combined expertise of the problems and care for one another. They are so hard-working and Sodexo and CSP teams. strong.” “At the beginning of the pandemic, we quickly understood All of this hard work has led to leaders who are proactively that our team members in dining would have to shut down or working on getting systems in place so that they can be quick to scale-down services,” says Kirsch. “At that point, our whole team respond when problems arise. Once the administrative team set came together to leverage the various talents we had to serve the direction and empowered the community to find their way our campus. We have done all this while still operating the other forward, leaders stepped up and embraced the challenge. three (custodial, maintenance, and grounds) areas without CAMPUS PREPARATIONS this process of getting and keeping our campus safe."

matters in keeping our community safe.” disrupting services. Every member of our team is fully engaged in

In total, CSP serves more than 5,500 students. Around two-thirds of those students are online or nursing students on the Portland, Ore. campus. The remaining third are traditional undergraduate students attending class and/or living on campus in St. Paul. Most of the coronavirus response initiatives were developed for the traditional on-campus students and as students responded to surveys over the summer, it was clear that these traditional students wanted to be in-person and on campus as much as possible. learn from health experts about the virus components within many of their regular online classes. “To keep students engaged safely, we have modified some courses to include a portion of their class meetings to be online, while others have gone entirely online,” Hall says. Along with creating a mixture of engaging on-campus and online learning experiences, faculty are working to increase student connections with each other through a variety of interactive solutions. “Our faculty are also doing a great job offering virtual office hours, assigning interactive group assignments, and conducting focused synchronous class meetings. Finding ways to connect personally with each student continues to be a high priority,” adds Hall. Sophomore criminal justice major Maiyan Tapia is appreciative for the proactive approach CSP took to open campus this fall.

“I'm so thankful to be able to go to school in-person where all safety precautions are taken heavily into consideration,” Tapia says. “I'm glad that all of my professors are incredibly understanding and encourage students to use resources to make not only my education easier but my personal life as well. Concordia has provided a safe place for me to be actively involved on campus."

Donovan Eidem, a sophomore music major, is in the camp that

"After managing the shift to online last spring, we learned the “I definitely feel safe attending class still. Nothing, to me, has importance of collaboration, time, and resilience,” says Kevin Hall, changed too much other than the masks and the distancing,” Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Eidem says. “I’ve appreciated that we’re still able to learn in a College of Business & Technology. “Initially, we all needed time to classroom environment as opposed to being completely online.” and how we might best respond and adapt For online students, many are also working moving forward. Through the following We've had a team of full time. These students have reported months, we worked collaboratively with the administrators, faculty, and a significant increase in stress and Minnesota Health Department (MDH) and staff working together to responsibilities. Hall says, "Our professors colleagues across the university to take the shape a learning environment are working hard to be more flexible and steps necessary for a safe return to campus." that reduces risk and empathetic to ease the stress of students." While the administrative teams worked to maximizes learning. For all CSP students, it has required set a direction for fall 2020, the focus was –Dr. Kevin Hall patience and willingness to adapt to to create a safe environment for living and succeed. learning. "While it's not a new insight, we continue to learn the importance "We've had a team of administrators, faculty, and staff working of flexibility and resilience,” Hall says. “We've had a few courses together to shape a learning environment that reduces risk move from smaller classrooms into some of our campus' larger and maximizes learning,” Hall says. “Our facilities team has done meeting spaces. As a result, there has been less of a need to excellent work to implement new cleaning protocols and modify these courses with online instruction. We've also learned installing new equipment to provide a clean environment. The that because our students want to be on campus, they have team also worked to provide realistic guidance for all of the done a great job following the COVID-19 precautions. Through it different parts of the campus' operation – athletics, academics, all, our students and faculty want to learn together. and residential life." “There is no playbook to follow on how to teach and learn within Coming into the fall semester CSP faculty, working to meet these disruptions. It can get a bit messy as we work with each student needs, balanced course offerings between both online other to navigate all of these changes,” says Hall. “As a result, we've and on-campus delivery. Additionally, using their extensive learned the value of caring for each other, trusting our processes, online teaching experience, faculty incorporated online learning and being patient. We are an adaptive learning community."

feels attending class during COVID-19 has not felt much different.

ATHLETICS

Sports have been hit hard by the pandemic. From little league teams to professional sports, no team has gone untouched by the virus. At CSP, fall sports competitions are canceled, hoping to resume for the winter sports season in 2021.

Director of Athletics Regan McAthie and the entire athletic department has been working hard to get student-athletes back to competing.

"We are fully aware of the challenges and concerns around COVID-19. We know that how we behave can contribute to how it does or does not spread,” McAthie says. “We also know that the positive value athletics have on our student-athletes is big, and we are working hard to maintain this. When these students can participate in their sport and build communities amongst their teams, they increase focus, physical wellness, and connections to life-long friends."

Knowing the value of sports for the Golden Bear student-athletes has been a cornerstone of creating the necessary protocols to keep everyone safe.

"Our goal this fall is to get our students back to training and competition safely. The protocols for doing this have come from the NCAA, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and Concordia St. Paul," says McAthie. "Throughout the summer and fall, we have been collecting data and creating standards for each of the sports we have at CSP. Each sport has a different risk level and requires different measures. We are still paying close attention to the data and new information that may affect this so that we can adapt if needed."

In addition to practice plans, venues, cleaning standards, faculty use, and competitions, coaches have intentionally found ways to build teams. has the strength of these relationships, the likelihood of success in all areas of their college experience increase."

McAthie explained coaches have gotten creative in finding ways to build connections through online interactions.

“They’re good at virtual workouts and have had fun team building events, from book studies to game nights,” McAthie says. “Coaches are so good about connecting with athletes to make sure they are managing stress well and making good decisions that help them reach their goals."

Amid all the new and different circumstances coaches and athletes have had this fall, McAthie sees some positive things happening.

"Our student-athletes have become have become even more resilient than before,” McAthie says. “It's a life skill taught in sport anyway, but our coaches are more committed than ever to helping our students turn their disappointment into something good. Student-athletes will be amongst the first to tell you how this has disrupted their livelihood. They are also steering the way for our community in responding with solutions, strong communication, positivity, and leadership."

The student-athletes and coaches at CSP have a strong understanding that their actions don't just affect their ability to compete now, but their fellow team's ability to compete in 2021.

"They are very committed to protecting one another," says McAthie. “That means that these students are not only following protocols themselves but encouraging other students on campus to do the same so that their fellow athletes can compete.”

Senior baseball player Patrick Bordewick For example, most of the same Welcome says despite the challenges COVID-19 Our suffering isn't unique. Weekend activities were held to help has presented to all of the Golden Bears What sets us apart is how we students kick off the school year. From athletic programs, he is grateful for the respond as a community. cookouts to other fun events, organizers opportunity to continue his collegiate –Regan McAthie worked hard to keep students safe by career. offering the same things multiple times "This obviously wasn't what I had in mind allow students to interact while maintaining their distance.when I decided to come back for a 5th year but I am lucky we a significant campus life experience while adapting to new we had in the previous year,” Rahn says. “We have been able to to decrease attendance at each event and still get to practice and be together as a team," Bordewick says. “I Rahn says that a big reason student events and the whole feel like the baseball team has been able to make the most out of student experience have been successful in the midst of all of the these uncertain times.”." adjustments is because of Comet's Commitment. As students, faculty, staff, and visitors step onto the CSP campus, they agree STUDENT LIFE to honor this commitment. It includes caring for the whole College is a time for transformation, building independence, ill, encouraging others to stay safe, and treating everyone with and new experiences. Many of the things that make up a typical respect. With unique branding, fun initiatives, and consistent student life for traditional students have now changed. Jason communication, Comet's Commitment has been adopted by our Rahn is the Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean on-campus community as a way of living in community with one of Students. For Rahn, his goal has been to continue to deliver another. COVID-19 protocols for the entire community. In addition to keeping traditions alive by delivering them a bit "To create a positive experience where students can still build seven new clubs and organizations proposed by students. community, learn, and experience all that on-campus living has Our student leaders are so creative about how they build the to offer, we have tried to have the same types of events that communities that mean so much to them." community by following protocols, staying home if you feel differently, Rahn says, "In the first six weeks of classes, we had offer these opportunities for engagement by delivering them in Learning options have also expanded to ensure that students different ways." can connect.

"This fall, we added a business-based living-learning community In addition to their virtual experiences, the admission team on campus. These students live, take classes, go on field trips, has used Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and CDC and meet with business leaders together. This is the first year compliant 1-on-1 campus tours, so that campus visits are as safe for this program, and it's full," says Rahn. "We also have The as possible. Ignite Leadership Program—a face-to-face leadership program, and The Charlie Academy—an online program for those that Because of these efforts and communicating early in the summer aren't comfortable with the in-person that CSP intended to be on-campus, CSP has higher-than-ever connections. Both of these programs have undergraduate enrollment. strong participation this year, which tells The students are just so happy "We saw a 3% increase in our traditional us that students are being proactive about to be on campus and grateful undergraduate enrollment numbers from finding ways to engage with their peers." that we had done all the our fall 2020 census report. We never take As Rahn reflects on fall 2020 student thoughtful planning to make our enrollment growth for granted, and life, he says, "There is a tendency for their experience welcoming we're always looking for ways to stand people, especially when there are and safe. out and improve everything that we do,” a lot of unknowns, to go negative. –Jason Rahn Martin says. “The pandemic has helped I have been most impressed with our speed up some virtual tactics, which has ability to stay positive. The data around been a blessing in disguise." student involvement in activities doesn't reflect that we have Martin says, "I feel blessed to work at an institution where we a pandemic going on. We are doing just as much, with just as work well together across departments, in a fast-paced, evermuch participation and engagement, as in the past. I am so changing environment. We are here to serve our students, impressed with how everyone has embraced the new protocols. and we always try to keep that in the front of our minds with The students are just so happy to be able to be on campus and everything we do at CSP." grateful that we had done all the thoughtful planning to make their experience welcoming while following COVID-19 guidance." MOVING FORWARD Besides the adjustments that CSP has made to help students succeed in finding their campus community, ensuring students are getting the mental health service they need has remained a priority.

"In addition to our on-campus healthcare center, we have expanded services this year that allows students to schedule and receive healthcare virtually," Rahn says.

ADMISSIONS

Like all other CSP departments, the admissions teams have had to change how they work and connect with potential students and families during this process.

Leah Martin, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, says that they have shifted most of their on-campus admissions experiences to a virtual format. The new online experiences have included: • Creating a "Welcome Wednesday" weekly video series that features current CSP students, faculty, and staff. • Completing a virtual walking tour, so students can see what our campus looks like from the comfort of their own home. • Offering virtual information sessions, both in a group format and 1-on-1 meetings. • Streaming on Instagram Live with current CSP students to share their own experiences. • Offering major-specific information sessions with some of our faculty members, focusing on their majors of expertise. • Launching a "CSP Parent & Community Portal" to specifically engage with our student's leading influencers. The world's understanding of COVID-19 will continue to evolve. Regardless of its timeline moving forward, CSP has been changed forever. It has forced some previously-dreamed-of initiatives to be sped up. It has reframed how communities and teams function. It has taught the campus community much about adapting and shifting to CSP’s strong online experience and infrastructure. Ultimately, it has shown the resilience and strength of the Concordia St. Paul community.

"Resilience and flexibility, part of CSP's culture, have helped us learn, adapt, and position ourselves for quality learning within this pandemic,” Hall says. “We've also learned the importance of having patience with each other. At its core, this has been all about fulfilling our mission here at CSP – helping students to

learn, grow, and graduate for service to God and humanity."