Dear TCU Faculty and Staff,
Thank you for your role in helping us reach the mid-point in Texas Christian University’s fall semester. I’m extraordinarily proud of and grateful to our campus community for taking such good care of one another and respecting the health, safety and choices of our colleagues near and far.
By remaining diligent in our protection and prevention measures, we have been able to manage and address the impact of the pandemic on campus. And, we will not rest in our effort to keep our campus as safe as possible. This is especially true as we approach cold and flu season, which is always a focus, but takes on more significance when paired with COVID-19. TCU nursing students will host their annual free flu vaccine clinic on Oct. 7 for the TCU community, with additional safety precautions in place. There are still slots left if you have not yet registered.
Through Student Government Association leadership, widespread support of Protect the Purple, and a lot of hard work by faculty and staff teams at TCU, last week we opened the new Community Commons, an outdoor space built to encourage outdoor physically-distanced activities. Located in the Commons greenspace to take advantage of a central campus location and Fort Worth’s almost year-round outdoor weather, this is a space to safely gather in-person, which complements our virtual events and academic engagement efforts. The same protocols and safety measures apply.
If you’re not on campus yet, enjoy this video of the Community Commons. Student Affairs is sponsoring programming to encourage connection and I’ve even seen a few students studying in the cool outdoor setup.
Recently, we hosted our first intercollegiate athletics events, football and soccer, on campus – and we look forward to volleyball and another football game on campus later this week. We will continue to have everyone on campus mask up and maintain physical distance so we can protect our friends and guests. Thank you for supporting our student-athletes!
Thank you, for your positive approach to all that has shaped our year at TCU since the beginning of the semester – and also since the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve personally seen incredible acts of inclusion and kindness among students, extraordinary classroom engagement between faculty and students, and exceptional leadership by so many in our community. And I know we will keep getting better as we learn more and look forward to the spring semester.
I never lose sight of how important our faculty and staff are to the academic and personal growth of our students, who are developing their minds and perspectives during these complicated and sometimes uncertain times. Your leadership is key for our campus community and to the academic reputation of TCU.
Finally, I leave you with another story of Horned Frog faculty and students, along with community partners, changing the world. Specifically, a TCU research team that’s saving the planet, starting with our mascot. Thank you for being a part of this Horned Frog family.
Go Frogs!
Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Chancellor