STAFF SUPPORT
Pandemic didn’t stop Bellisario College’s advising office from helping students When a campus shutdown went from a few weeks to a month to unknown, the academic services office in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications was able to adapt thanks to the flexibility of its staff, the resilience of its students and the support system of other departments in the Bellisario College and on campus.
Assistant Dean Jamey Perry meets with a student before mask guidelines were in place. IMAGE: RILEY HERMAN, ‘22
Spring break of 2020 was coming to a close. Assistant Dean for Academic Services Jamey Perry told members of the advising team to pack up their laptops and plan to work from home for a couple of weeks. The coronavirus pandemic had started to change schedules, but no one expected it to last long. “Then April came around, and all of a sudden I was like ‘Hey, nobody’s coming back,’” Perry said. “It was a double whammy for us, because we had students prepping for a normal fall semester and we were also helping students panicking about finishing the spring semester.” The advising office has a unique placement at the center of the Bellisario College. Advisers work closely with students and faculty. They also collaborate with members 32
2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT
from nearly every other academic department. Together, they assist in accomplishing the office’s mission to help students reach their academic goals. When the pandemic hit, students were wrapping up their first years, graduating, starting an internship or learning abroad. They were all sent home. The advising mission stayed the same. That meant many Zoom meetings and phone calls sometimes late at night and early in the morning. There were some learning curves and hiccups with technology, but adviser BB Muré said patience and teamwork won the day. “I think most students know what resources they have here,” she said. “Their professors, their librarian, academic advisers, career services, diversity and inclusion, the tech office ... we all supported each other. And when you were running out of steam, there was always someone there to take the baton and keep the momentum.” After a quiet summer with most staff working from home, the advising team worked hard to provide a sense of normalcy for on-campus students in the fall. That meant keeping the lights on in 204 Carnegie Building should students need a place to go. When students stopped by, there would be a brief, socially distanced conversation in the lobby connecting students with recourses to access virtually. “Especially for freshmen,” lead adviser Mary Sergeant said. “Dean Marie Hardin really wanted somebody there for the freshmen coming in living in the dorms instead of a post-it note that said, ‘Sorry we’re out. Call this number.’”
Our students are amazing. They are resilient folks. They just keep going.
– BB Muré, Bellisario College academic adviser
The advisers came up with weekly rotations to ensure at least one adviser was available during working hours. Working from home, the other advisers made themselves available virtually. They assisted international students
