A Resilient Return

The bell tower atop Mackay Hall on Park University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus stood steadfast while its chimes echoed through empty classrooms, vacant dorms and across a lifeless campus. The year 2020 had thrown the world a formidable curveball — one that Park University grasped with steady grit and grace.

resilient (re·sil·ient)

the ability to withstand, adjust or recover from challenges

Syn: Adaptable, brave, courageous, determined, flexible, persevering, tenacious, withstanding adversity with grit and grace. See also: Park University.

The Spring 2020 semester began in January with the usual vitality and zeal as Park leadership closely monitored a menace marching its way around the world — COVID-19. By March, it was clear that the fast-spreading virus had become a volatile threat.

“The pandemic required a whirlwind of rapid decisions in the face of extraordinary uncertainty,” said Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students. To protect the Park family, all classes were moved to online learning, and the Parkville Campus, along with Park’s 40 other campuses across the U.S., were indefinitely closed.

What many hoped would be a short-lived adjustment turned into nearly 18 months of social distancing away from the collective vibrancy of college life. Yet Park drew upon its nearly 150 years of resilient innovation to quickly adapt.

“When we made this difficult decision, we knew it would create myriad challenges,” Uden said. “Recognizing that every student and every situation is unique, we dove in to support students in every way possible.”

Emergency relief

Unlike other colleges and universities, Park University had the advantage of proven leadership in online education. “We were well-equipped to quickly move all students to virtual classes, but we recognized that not all students had access to computers and reliable internet access at home,” Uden said. “Many students were also facing financial hardships from personal or family loss of income due to the pandemic.”

To help meet a wide range of needs, Park established the Student Emergency Relief Fund with the help of generous donations that exceeded $24,500, along with more than $16,600 in contributions to the University’s Pirate Pantry. SERF provided resources for students experiencing unexpected expenses, including travel costs, technology to support remote learning, assistance with utilities and other financial burdens due to personal or family job loss.

Finding home

Not all students could return to their home that was an ocean away. “With closed borders and travel bans, the closure was an exceptionally complex challenge for our international students,” said Kevin Vicker, senior director of international education. “Historically, international students are required to be enrolled full-time in face-to-face classes. Fortunately, rules were adjusted to allow international students in the U.S. to return home or remain in the U.S. and take all their courses online.”

When the residence halls closed, Park went to work to help international students who were unable to return to their home countries find a place to stay, starting with a call to Jill Mitchell.

Mitchell, along with her husband, Mike, have been volunteers since 1992 with Friendship Partners, a program that welcomes Park University international students with home-cooked meals and invitations to holiday celebrations and community events.

“In the face of one of the most difficult eras of modern history, we have stood strong and remained Park United. We celebrate the resilience of our students, faculty and staff.” — President Shane Smeed, during Park University’s Opening Convocation in August 2021

“I remember sitting in my dorm room watching the news about countries closing their borders to limit the spread of COVID-19. I was so nervous. When the (Parkville) campus closed, I returned to Brazil. I was fortunate to live with my family and continue classes online, yet it wasn’t the same. Studying in the U.S. had been a dream come true. It was incredibly difficult to be forced back home with no idea when the borders would reopen. When I was finally able to return over a year later, I was filled with excitement. The whole experience has taught me a lot. I’m grateful for the many opportunities at Park, and I don’t take any of it for granted.” — Marina Lima, senior business administration/ management major, serves on the Park Student Activities Board and is a member of the Parkville Campus women’s soccer team.

“I remember that call from Park,” she said. “I wanted to immediately say yes, but it was such a scary time. We didn’t yet understand all the risks of COVID-19,” Mitchell said. “The first thing I did was pray. After that, I started making calls.” Mitchell’s prayers were generously answered. “The compassion of people who bravely opened their homes with little notice to students they’d never met for an unpredictable amount of time was incredible.”

Making it work

Imagine starting a new role in January 2020 with the objective to encourage Park University students to connect and build relationships, only to be catapulted into a stay-six-feet-away pandemic.

“At first, it was unsettling. There were so many unknowns about how COVID-19 was transmitted,” said Mya Lawrence, director of student engagement. “College campuses are especially challenging with students living in dorms, gathering in classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and auditoriums. But we had to adapt and figure out how to keep going.”

Lawrence continuously monitored and adhered to ever-changing COVID-19 health and safety protocols. “It certainly challenged us to think way outside any kind of box,” she said. “Fortunately, I have a make-it-work philosophy.”

The Final Walk

What students most wanted was connection. “Students longed for a sense of belonging, even if it meant seeing each other on Zoom or gathering six feet apart on a cold winter day, peering out over masked faces,” Lawrence said. Overseeing the Park Student Activity Board, she planned drive-in movie events at Julian Field on the Parkville Campus and coordinated food trucks offering free ice cream, coffee and waffles to create simple, safe opportunities for students to gather.

Hearing students share frustrations about not being able to celebrate graduation together, Lawrence rolled up her sleeves. “We were preparing for the third consecutive virtual commencement ceremony and students were weary. I wanted to create something special,” she said. On May 7, 2021, the day before the ceremony, graduating seniors were invited to wear their cap and gown to participate in a “final walk,” a ceremonial stroll on the Parkville Campus. “Students were so excited,” Lawrence said. “Now they want to make it a Park tradition.”

Safe return

The health and safety of the Park University family was the guiding priority in welcoming students and faculty back for the 2021-22 academic year. Park invested more than $1.5 million to install hand sanitizer stations, acrylic shields for public-facing areas and electrostatic disinfecting equipment in classrooms and communal spaces.

On Aug. 20, 2021, the University celebrated a long-awaited “full fall return” with its traditional Opening Convocation. Ceremonial bagpipers led students and faculty, dressed in full academic regalia, into Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the Parkville Campus. The special event was webcast live to students at all of the University’s campuses and online across the country.

“The pandemic has shown us that we can overcome unexpected challenges” said Park President Shane Smeed during the Opening Convocation. “Together, we can rise to any occasion with persistence and dedication.”

Park has always taken pride in being resilient. “That’s what has allowed us to be here for nearly 150 years,” Uden said. “We may not know exactly what’s around the corner, but we’re always ready to adapt.” On May 7, 2021, the day before the ceremony, graduating seniors were invited to wear their cap and gown to participate in a “final walk,” a ceremonial stroll on the Parkville Campus. “Students were so excited,” Lawrence said. “Now they want to make it a Park tradition.”

After nearly two years of virtual commencements, Park University was proud to return to its traditional commencement ceremony on December 11, 2021, at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo. Congratulations to our Fall 2021 graduates. Your perseverance and determination inspires us all.

Angela Mancuso takes the opportunity to celebrate graduation on the steps of Mackay Hall on Park University’s flagship Parkville (Mo.) Campus. Mancuso earned a Master of Public Administration degree in 2020 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications arts/public relations in 2015. She is currently employed at Park University as a college relations manager.

Photo by Elise Wilcox

Park University Provost Michelle Myers, Ed.D., presents a diploma to Margaret Fountain, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Human Resources.