PANDEMIC RESPONSE As Roger Williams University School of Law entered of Health, and we’ve been following CDC guidance. the 2020-21 academic year, the world still need foundsomething Our goals focus ifare keepphoto you safe, to filland thisour space... wetoomit heretoneed to have itself in the depths of the pandemic. In order to support and strengthen our sense of community 48 pages complete all classes before Thanksgiving, the start at the School of Law, and to provide you with the of the semester was moved back a few days and fall quality educational experience that you deserve, holidays were eliminated. Some classes were offered so that you will be fully career-ready in just a few in person with masking and social distancing, some semesters when you graduate. Your education were online, and still others were a hybrid of both. is paramount. Your safety is paramount. We are committed to both. Before classes began, Dean Bowman addressed students “RWU Law’s twin goals for “This coming year is going to be a at an online meeting: 2020-21 are to keep you safe challenging one, perhaps especially for those of you who are in your and to give you the best“One of the many things I second and third years. You’re quality legal education we looking at what was a tough Spring find wonderfully meaningful can possibly deliver.” about teaching law is that 2020 semester continuing into we’re training our future the Fall semester. But you’re also - Dean Gregory W. Bowman learning how to not just survive, but colleagues—getting to know you, supporting you, watching to thrive in these challenging times. you excel and then go out into the world and make a And resilience is an essential skill for a successful difference. Law schools exist for their students. Our lawyer. I don’t mean to sound pie-in-the-sky about purpose is to serve, teach, and train you so that you it, but there really is a lot to learn from adversity. can become the lawyers and leaders of the future. Embrace it as an opportunity and a challenge from This year, as you well know, we have an extra set of which you can learn. challenges. “Frankly, I’ve learned a lot about myself here already “No one back in January or February would have —and I’ve developed a faith in the people that I’ve anticipated a fall semester like this one, but here we joined here at Roger Williams University. Our primary are. And we have been hard at work over the summer focus is on finding ways to innovate and be better. —at the University level and at the School of Law That’s why we’re here. That’s why we do what level—being very proactive and very innovative. We’ve we do.” had conversations with the Rhode Island Department
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