S TAT E O F T H E C A M P U S
Lessons From the Pandemic
Teamwork, Partnership and Sacrifice: Keeping Missouri Military Academy Open During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As
the first reports of coronavirus cases appeared in China in December 2019, few could have predicted how the entire world would be impacted just a few short months later. When Missouri Military Academy cadets returned to campus for the spring semester in January 2020, they looked forward to completing the year as usual. By February, however, the world health situation began to dictate changes. In early February, MMA administrative leaders began monitoring coronavirus developments. At the time, there seemed to be little cause for alarm — no cases had been reported in Missouri, and the local area was not yet directly affected. As more information began to emerge about the virus, however, cadets began to see changes on campus. Faculty and staff quickly implemented protocols such as an increased focus 22
The Eagle
on proper handwashing and increased cleaning and disinfecting in order to reduce risk and support the health of the MMA community. MMA increased communications with parents to notify them of MMA’s response to COVID-19, with a first email message sent from MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), on February 6, 2020, to let families know MMA was monitoring cadet, faculty and staff travel as well as COVID developments around the world. By the time cadets left for spring furlough on March 7, 2020, cases in Missouri were appearing. Concern was growing close to home and around the world. MMA closely checked spring furlough travel plans to ensure no cadets, faculty or staff traveled to the countries identified at that time by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as under Level 3 Travel
Health Notice — China, Italy, Iran and South Korea — where there was widespread, ongoing transmission. Within the week of furlough, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump followed with a national emergency declaration on March 13, just as MMA families were preparing to return their cadets to campus.
Return from Spring Furlough “Timing was everything for MMA’s success in completing the spring 2020 semester with in-person classes,” says President Geraci. MMA’s spring furlough fell a week earlier than most schools, which
