PSC COURSE OF ACTION DUE TO CORONAVIRUS IMPACT

At all times, the well-being of our Campus Community is of paramount importance. While we are grateful for no known incidences of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) associated with Philander Smith College (PSC), we are diligently monitoring news reports and updates from the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Arkansas, the City of Little Rock, and other public health officials. As a result, PSC has made the decision to move from in-person class instruction to a hybrid remote approach effective Monday, March 23rd until further notice.

PSC students will be on Spring Break as scheduled March 16th – March 20th. The following week (beginning March 23), the Spring Semester will resume with classes offered remotely – a hybrid model that will employ a mix of online and other remote capabilities. In preparation for this shift in learning, students should regularly check their PSC email for communication from the Division of Academic Affairs regarding coursework. Please note during this timeframe that residential halls and dining services will still be available.

During the suspension of in-person classes, the campus will remain operational for staff and faculty. College employees will be directed by their supervisors regarding their roles and responsibilities within their functional areas.

Just as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), due to concerns over COVID-19, canceled its Tournament in which the PSC Lady Panthers were to compete as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Champions, PSC will host no student activities or campus events until further notice. Accordingly, the 2020 Founder’s Day Celebration, which was to take place March 26th, has been postponed. In conjunction, the leadership of the PSC-National Alumni Association is rescheduling its 64th Alumni Convention that was scheduled for March 26th – 29th in Little Rock.

Because this is a constantly evolving situation, there is a webpage on the PSC website dedicated to Coronavirus Updates. This channel, along with our official social media platforms and campus emails, will be utilized to quickly share news of modified procedures and practices. Students, faculty and staff are also advised to either sign-up for or update their communication preferences in the E2campus alert system. It is imperative that we are able to keep you abreast of changes and information in real-time. 

Although we are in unprecedented territory, we are committed to not only ensuring continuity of academic offerings, but also the health and vitality of our students, faculty and staff. This means, in addition to suspension of in-person classes, increased sanitation protocols for the campus and continuing to encourage the recommendations of the CDC related to best practices to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

More information will be forthcoming as we continue to work through these shifting processes, so we ask for your patience, understanding and support as we navigate throughout this period. Please know, also, that we are praying for the wellness of each member of our Philander Family until such time that we are able to wholly restore the day-to-day operations of our Campus Community.