On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee extended the state’s Stay at Home Order through April 30, followed in May by “a phased reboot of the economy.” The order extends the mandate that citizens stay at home unless carrying out essential activities. I’m proud of how Skyhawk Nation is doing its part to support the governor and move us closer to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not easy, and the coming days, weeks and months will challenge us as we prepare to reopen the university alongside the restart of Tennessee’s and the nation’s economies.
This crisis is defined largely by pandemic numbers, which lead health-care professionals and our local, state and national leaders to make important decisions about the future. Our university leaders follow these numbers closely and look forward to the day when we can return to the classrooms, laboratories, playing fields and performance venues that define the college experience. Until then, other important numbers prepare us for the days when we can gather again as a university.
- 1,400: Handwritten postcards destined for the homes of prospective students who are the Class of 2020.
- 80: UT Martin faculty and staff members who volunteered to write postcards for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and reassure future students that we want them to become Skyhawks.
- 85: Students who remain on campus and are the focus of our efforts to make sure their experience is the best it can be in the midst of this crisis.
- 200: Personal videos sent to current UT Martin students who need to hear an encouraging word and to know that their Skyhawk family cares.
- 1: The number of Skyhawks it takes to say an encouraging word, send an email, make a phone call, help a student solve a problem, encourage a colleague – in short, use the “power of one” to make a huge difference as we get through this together.
Numbers tell a story, and 49,000 UT Martin alumni are a testament that our university enjoys a sound legacy and a bright future beyond these uncertain days. Thank you for what you’re doing to write the next chapter of our great university’s history.
To keep up with our latest campus updates related to COVID-19, please visit: www.utm.edu/coronavirus
To keep up with the news and advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/
Thank you.
