Summer 2020
This issue of Seasons magazine is designed to commemorate the extraordinary efforts of the Samford community during this uniquely challenging time in world history.
Resilience in the Face of COVID-19
On March 17, 2020, Samford University transitioned to remote operations in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. All courses were taught online for the remainder of the spring and throughout the summer semesters. Faculty, staff and students united to ensure our university remained steadfast in our commitment to be a place of superior learning and extraordinary personal development. Additionally, countless Samford alumni across the country and around the world stepped up in tremendous ways to serve patients, families, churches, and communities in need.
Since May, employees have been gradually returning to campus in order to prepare for what is sure to be one of the most memorable semesters in Samford’s history. In the days and weeks ahead, Samford will welcome a record freshman class while embracing plans to mitigate the risks for contracting and spreading the virus on campus.
A crisis of this magnitude creates monumental challenges, but also provides opportunities to learn and adapt. As a result, our university has developed new processes and competencies, most notably in online education. While we look forward to the return of in-person instruction, this experience will undoubtedly strengthen our integration of technology in the classroom and across all of our operations for years to come. The pandemic has challenged us to evolve and adapt, but more than anything, it has reaffirmed the importance of our mission, which unites our Samford community and is what our students, alumni and employees value most.
This digital issue of Seasons magazine is designed to commemorate the extraordinary efforts of Samford students, faculty, staff and alumni during this uniquely challenging time in our world’s history.
As always, please keep Samford in your prayers.
Andrew Westmoreland
President
Samford Is Bringing Back the Bulldogs
The university looks forward to welcoming students back to campus as we plan to resume in-person classes and residential life for the Fall 2020 semester. Living, learning and working together this Fall will require more respect and responsibility from each of us, but we can do it!
Samford Virtually Celebrates Spring Graduates
Thousands joined Samford remotely on Aug. 15 to honor the class of May 2020 with the university’s virtual commencement ceremonies.
Samford Rallies Together to Meet Student Needs
Every spring, Samford employees come together with alumni, parents and community members during the Big Give to support students, scholarships and programs. However, events relating to the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the event and shifted our focus to accomplishing one goal: meeting student needs.
Task Force on Racial Justice
President Andrew Westmoreland affirmed the university’s commitment to advancing racial justice throughout the university saying, “The initiatives and goals cited here are simply the beginning of a long pathway, for which failure is not an option. We will do more; we must do more. And ‘we’ includes all of us.”
Nurse Educators Grant
Samford University’s Ida Moffett School of Nursing has received more than $2 million to help make graduate nursing education more affordable for current nurse educators or practicing nurses committed to careers in nursing education.
